The Band Guestbook, November 2015

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Ben

Subject: The Who

David P, That must have been something to see the Who on their first american tour. It's pretty funny that they were opening for Herman's Hermits. Those type of odd lineups seem to have been pretty common in the 60'a as Jimi Hendrix was paired with the Monkees on his first American tour.

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Bill M

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David P

Ben, I haven't bought any music from The Who in quite some time. They were another group that recorded several versions of "Baby Don't You Do It," which was a staple in their live shows in the early years. One later studio outtake version, featuring Leslie West on lead guitar, was included as a bonus cut on the deluxe CD reissue version of "Who's Next."

I did get to see them open for Herman's Hermits, of all people, here in Atlanta in 1967 and was completely blown away by their performance. Their equipment destruction during "My Generation," at the conclusion of their short but energetic set, stunned the teeny bopper girls in the audience there to see their heartthrob Peter Noone. I have to admit that it took a lot of guts to follow The Who onstage.

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Ben

David P, I just did some research on 'I Can See for Miles' and it appears that the version on the Who 'Singles' cd is actually a BBC version, not the single version. Sorry about that.

Have you gotten the newly released Who at Hyde Park set? I've been reading mixed reviews about it. I love the Who, but the setlist looks pretty routine, with the exception of 'Pictures of Lily'.

I really wish they would change things up a bit more and incorporate some solo Pete and Roger songs. When you add in their solo albums, they really have a large body of work to draw from, yet for the most part they play the same 15 songs night after night, year after year.

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David P.

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Ben

Subject: I Can See For Miles

David P, I believe that the single mix of 'I Can See for Miles' was released on a Polydor Who compilation called 'The Singles' back in the 1980's. The copy that I have was made in West Germany, I believe that there's also a Japanese version.

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David P

Subject: Blonde On Blonde test pressing

Link to photo of Dylan and Richard listening to a test pressing of "Blonde On Blonde," presumably taken on tour. Note the far from audiophile portable hifi. Maybe it was a mono version, as the two speakers are sitting side by side.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Concert Stage Lighting

This morning while having my coffee, I was watching the program, Daily Planet. The feature was the band "Imagine Dragons".

The stage show, first created for them in Vegas sparked their imaginations and the creations by the lighting tecks and crew are exciting and very interesting. I used to rent stage lighting from a fellow whose business was rentals of stage sound and lighting. I was able to learn a reasonable amount about it in my time in the business.

What they do now with the technology available is really something. Instead of any pyrotechnics what they do with LED, rotating columns etc is an amazing amout of special effects.

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Peter V

Generally, in the 70s at least, most studios had a high quality monitor set up, then an “average domestic hi-fi” set up – AR18 bookshelf speakers were considered a good average benchmark and most studios had them, then a car radio mono speaker, and a mix was tried out on all three. Way back I recall a hifi magazine critiquing “Nashville Skyline” and suggesting that Dylan had finally bought himself a decent home hifi system and the album was mixed for that, and they had neglected the mono car radio speaker test. (Having said that my mind is niggling, “or was it New Morning” but I’m pretty sure it was “Nashville Skyline.”) They may be unfair to lay the blame on Bob, as it was rather a changing industry focus and assumption of stereo, including in cars. But even in the early 90s, doing music, they would run it through a ghetto blaster to check what it sounded like. With the car radio speaker, you're assuming that very quiet passages will need boosting … a major mistake even in 2015 of BBC Radio drama, which uses far too great a range for in-car listening. I find I'm continually fiddling with volume. They'll have people whispering and you turn it up, then they'll have a car crash or police siren at full volume. The BBC must have caused many accidents by broadcasting sudden car crash or siren SFX on radio at high volume. I've swerved myself!

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David P

There are unique mono 45-single mixes that are not available elsewhere. The Buffalo Springfield single version of Neil Young's "Mr. Soul" has a different, rawer lead guitar solo than that of the mono & stereo LP versions. The Who's "I Can See For Miles" single has an overdubbed second bass line, with the drums slightly lower in the mix, than the album versions. I don't believe that either of these two have been reissued on CD.

The Band's studio mono mix of "Get Up Jake" first appeared as the B-side of the live stereo single version of "Don't Do It" from "Rock of Ages." That version, however, has been reissued on the Kingdom Come CD compilation set and as a bonus track on the out-of-print Audio Fidelity gold CD reissue of the Brown Album.

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Jeff A.

Subject: Pre -Chanukah Present.

You got to give this Chanukah present a day early. But, it's good for all eight days of gifts....See the link.

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David P

Out of convenience and for fun I often burn CD compilations of my favorite 45-singles. Even converted to the digital format, the sound is still amazing. I remember the story about Buck Owens, who had a background in radio, used to mix his singles with Ken Nelson using small speakers, rather than large studio monitors, to get a bright sound that really stood out when played on AM radio. One other example I noticed is that my 45 copy of Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" really has so much more punch than the mono & srereo LP counterparts. And you can't beat the James Brown 45 mono single versions on the King label for an electrifying sound.

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NWC

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: REAL men

First LATTE here in gb and now glass of GREEN TEA GINGER ALE! - "Now I need a drink" like Dean Martin always said. BTW Because Bob Dylan has not continued in Woody Guthrie style he should have chosen Dean Martin instead of that Sinatra guy. Like singing 'Gentle Of My Mind' Dino style.

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JQ

New live music from Nick Lowe. Mostly a performance of his Christmas record and backed by the always shit-hot Los Straightjackets!

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Jeff A.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Kick Off!

Sweet Susie just brought me my big bowl of pop corn drenched in coconut oil and Himalayan salt and I got a glass of green tea ginger ale.......I'm content.....

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Peter V

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Mike Nomad

Sorry, iPad zinged me again. That should read "north of Buffalo . . . ."

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Mike Nomad

Sorry, I used perspective twice in this post.

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Peter V

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Game! DAY!!!

I'm rootin' for the Red Blacks.....cause I've hated Edmonton my entire life!

I'm not sure who's crazier Kevin or Mike.......actually maybe it's me.....

Entered at Sun Nov 29 20:43:19 CET 2015 from (184.145.67.135)

Mike Nomad

Thanks, Karen. Actually, I WAS looking for a research assistant for an upcoming project. What a coincidence. As it turns out, my usual procedure is to have credentials for prospective staffers vetted by my more than capable colleague, Norm. But unfortunately, he's on his boat right now somewhere off Port Hardy, trying to calm the waters. Port Hardy? That's near the northern tip of Vancouver Island, Karen. Let's just say it's north of Seattle. But he'll be back soon. Keep in touch.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Brief Interruptions

Kevin!....It's yer day off.......I want yuh to be quiet now.

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Kevin J

Project: Did Robbie catch the fly? Please submit by December 20, 2015.

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Peter V

John D & Bill M: One find today … a CD of Eclection,. the "Eclection" album with bonus tracks- 6 singles As and Bs and 5 x BBC Radio Sessions. On the Swedish Flawed Gems label … Flawed Gems also had Mogul Thrash with the 45 (both sides) and 5 x BBC Sessions. Both Mike Rosen of course.

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Karen

Subject: Hello

I think you are an amazing insightful writer! I'd love to help you with research for a next project.

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Peter V

Motown is what you play to show why 45s are still the best for the dance floor too.

Just back from Reading Record Fair (and actually driving in the misty morning rain too)… the remastered Astral Weeks on going there, Natalie Merchant Paradise Is Here coming back. Both just about twice through. The Astral Weeks bonus tracks don't add much, but the bass playing is louder, and that's got to be good. The odd addition on the alternative take is that between the engineer calling "Madame George" and Van singing Madame Joy on the main track, I'd swear he does a Madame Joyce too.

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David P

It wasn't just the mono mix that gave them the punch that made them jump out, but also the way they were mastered. The bass, mid and high end levels, along with the EQ were adjusted to give the singles that hot sound that really came through on AM radio, home hifi and juke boxes.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Motown is.......The Funk Brothers

They have backed more singers, and groups than probably any one in history.

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Peter V

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John D

A journalist friend of mine interviewed a higher up person from Mowtown a few years back. It was my friends feeling that the Mowtown Singles always sounded richer and hotter than the L.P's. The person he spoke with said he was right. Mowtown always spent much more time preparing for any one singles release than an album. The album might have a hit single and a bunch of fillers. Reminds me of Sir George Martin talking about all the work he did; in preparing for a Beatles 45 and then would have some of his team work on a Beatles L.P. Sounds like it was the era of the hit single and the power of FM radio had not yet started.

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Peter V

I've got the Complete Motown Singles CD sets, so I'd have every track (plus a couple of boxes of original Motown 45s), but the joy is having the Eps as they first appeared and how we met hem in Britain. Even more so, the Motown Chartbusters LPs running from late 60s through the 70s were recycled hits, but were SO familiar that the sequence of various artists on them is well-remebered.

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Lisa

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Lisa

Very interesting, if rather overwrought movie, with all kinds of overtones of then quite hush-hush subjects. But the credits, with that black tomcat prowling the alleys to that sleazy, slinking music, are really outstanding.

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David P

I skipped the Black Friday Record Store Day this year. The Cutting Edge 6-CD box set has provided enough music for me for now. I do have a copy of Marvin Gaye's 1964 45-single of Baby Don't You Do It on the Tamla label. The fip side is Walk On The Wild Side, written by Mack David & Elmer Bernstein, originally performed by Brook Benton for the 1962 film by the same name.

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Peter V

BTW, those Motown EPs were highly prized … R&B Chartmakers 1-4, and Hitsville USA. They include three Marvin Gaye classics … Hitch Hike, Can I Get A Witness and … Baby Don't Do It (for a Band connection).

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Kevin J

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Peter V

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Peter V

The big Black Friday release here was a vinyl box set of the first seven Motown UK EPs. They didn't get it right … while The Miracles "Shop Around" EP was on London (right! A perfect facsimile) they put the first Little Stevie Wonder EP on "Tamla Motown." As you will all know, I'm sure, it should be on Stateside, not Tamla Motown. But seven EPs, where the originals range from £125 to £250, for about £7.50 each.

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Peter V

A Christmas Special has been announced.

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JQ

When's the next Sherlock episode coming out?

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Peter V

I've never seen either series. People praise it to the skies, but we have a backlog of stuff to watch and I prefer feature films on the whole. Maybe I should get a box … so UK or US version? Kevin Spacey in "Richard III" on stage is one of the best performances I've ever seen … a very fine actor.

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JQ

I am not a very good musician, but I recall when Ovations came on the scene that folks were broadly impressed by their sound quality. It was truly original sounding, and to many, I think, an improved guitar. Glenn Campbell, as a great natural musician - maybe genius musically? - seemed to think so too. But in my experience they never matched the aesthetic and historical appeal of a Martin or old Gibson. Maybe because the purists then labeled them as plastic and not containing the fine, hand workmanship of others -

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JT

Subject: House of Cards

Interesting that so far the input on 'House of Cards' has been from a fellow Canadian only. I am wondering if some of the UK crowd recalls watching it and what their take is (and if they can compare it as Kevin did to the Netflix USA /Spacey version).

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Guitars

Rod, Good to hear from you. I am ashamed to say I've never seen one of those Morris guitars. On looking them up I see they have been around for a long while. Nice looking guitars.

I've heard about the problem you speak of, (generally with the cheaper brand of Ovation guitars called "Applause"). I see that those of yours aren't cheap.

My first Ovations I had back in the early 80's. I got rid of them because of the nuisance of having to slack the strings and change the battery inside. However my "Legend" I've had for over 20 years now and it was that way, (and they had no eq on them.)

My son who plays also took my Legend to a friend of his and had it altered. It now has the battery saddle outside so you can just slip it in and he added an eq adjuster. It is a thin line model great to play and a wonderful sound.

A few years ago I bought a pair of Addama Elite models, one 6 string and one twelve. By the way, on his Good Time Hour, Glenn Campbell was the first to ever endorse Ovation Guitars.

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joe j

Robertson-Davies collaboration. Innaresting??

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Rod

Subject: Glen Campbell

I've always liked GC. The first concert I ever went to - I was 12 and we got free tickets. must have been about 72 or so. He's a bit like Johnie Cash and Neil Diamond though - a few early great songs and alot of dross that followed.

Rockin Chair, I have a Morris Tornado which came out of Japan in the early 80's. Same bowl back as the Ovations. Great guitar - though a local luthier told me that those types of guitars were all subject to body twisting - which mine has to a slight degree.

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Kevin J

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Jeff A.

Norm, if you can count the guitars in the man's coffin, invite me to that seance. I got some spirits I want to talk to.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Glenn Campbell - One more time

Don't know if any of you have ever chanced to see........Glenn play "Dueling Banjos" with his beautiful daughter Ashley. He plays one of his Ovation guitars, and Ashley plays banjo. Really something to see, she picks just like her Dad.

Wonder how many Ovations Glenn has. I have 3, wonderful guitars to play and the best thing is they stay in tune better than any other guitar.

I recall a sound man telling my brother at the JR Country Club in Vancouver. "I love that Ovation Legend of Norm's. It is the easiest and best guitar to "EQ" it is so clear."........If only I could have played it better.

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JT

Subject: re: UK (House of Cards)

We finally got around to watching "House Of Cards" and are into our second season. This is the US production (Kevin Spacey etc.) It is intriguing and worth watching.

My question: There was a UK version which predated this US production. Did any of you watch it and what are opinions on it? Thanks.

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Peter V

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Histryonics

That's right Peter, it was before his time. I forget the guitarist's name then.....and I ain't lookin it up!

I get tired of writin all this stuff......every body has to have input anyway. There is too much information to put out on all these people.......GO LOOK IT UP ON WIKI...AL-A-YUZ!

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Peter V

Subject: Tequila

See this interview. Glen didn't play guitar on Tequila in 1958. He moved to California in 1960 and played it live.

Entered at Thu Nov 26 20:05:53 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Glen Campbell

Between being Glen Campbell, A Champ and Glen Campbell, he was a Folkswinger and a Beach Boy and part of the Wrecking Crew. Link to the Farewel Tour 2011 Reciew above. QUOTE:

"I loved his little joke towards the end as he strapped on a 12-string for Southern Nights: I’m the best guitar player here, and they only let me do a couple of numbers."

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Ben Turkel

Rockin Chair, Nice clip of Waylon Jennings. He was a great talent. One of the finest voices of his time.

I wasn't fully aware of Glenn Campbell's history. I know that he was a session musician for the Beach Boys in the mid 60's. My biggest memory of Campbell is hearing 'Rhinestone cowboy' and 'Southern Nights' on the radio about 50,000 times in the mid 70's.

My main point of reference for Ralph Emory is that he inspired the Byrds song 'Drug store trick driving man' after he was rude to them when they played the Grand Ole Opry during their country phase in 1968.

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Kevin J

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Waylon & Glenn Campbell's good Time Hour

I forgot to mention. The series of videos I mentioned are called the "The Oprey Home Coming Shows" hosted by Ralph Emorey......I don't think I spelt that right.....anyway in this one Waylon salutes Glenn Campbell for his continued help of young upcoming stars.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: HOT LICKS PICKIN!

There are many youtube vids of all the country music stars at sessions like this one. Here Glenn Campbell shows Chet Atkins and all, (how it's really done).........don't miss this.

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Kevin J

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Glenn Campbell

It appears from comments now and then, many people are not aware. Before Glenn Campbell was "GLENN CAMPBELL", he was lead guitar player for "The Champs", (Tequila!) Not long was he with that band after moving to LA. He became one of the most sought after session musicians of that time. The list of people whose recordings he is credited on is far too long to print here.

I remember when he introduced John Hartford in his first appearance on Glenn's show. My brothers and I were already playing John's music. My younger brother had a vinyl of John's. (I don't remember the name of that album). It had some really interesting music on it. John had a great sense of humor. One of his songs on that album, "Don't leave your records in the sun". He could sing and play like a warped record. It was unreal.

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Dunc

Subject: Al Edge

Great stuff, Al. He's a good manager.

Glasgow is full of Ajax supporters today.

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Kevin J

Entered at Thu Nov 26 17:49:59 CET 2015 from (73.253.168.54)

Dave H

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Roger

Subject: The lad

Al - I meant the boy - not Klopp. Though he seems a good'n too.

Entered at Thu Nov 26 17:14:05 CET 2015 from (24.114.68.171)

Kevin J

Al Edge........Sure am and last Saturday was the most enjoyable match I have watched since the Suarez years ( we usually get one Liverpool game a week - if a weekend game )......While in a taxi a few weeks back from Euston railway station, I explained to the driver how I came to be a fan of Liverpool......he liked the story and explained his support of Millwall and why......we had had such a good talk that I said I would keep an eye out for Millwall, as well.......he immediately said "if you get up North, don't be mentioning that"

Related, I guess to how the discussion started with the driver saying that it bothered him a lot when a local London guy got in his cab and started going on about Manchester United......There are 6 clubs in London and that should be enough for someone to have found one, he noted quite excitedly !

..............anyhow, his comments about the new Liverpool manager stood out for me......the appointment had just been made about a week before I guess but I conceded to him that I wasn't up on the guy or any of the details.....and he said "relax, he has an excellent reputation, seems very sharp and on top of all that, he has a great sense of humour.....which will serve him well in Liverpool"

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Peter V

Al, Just phoned the garage to see if my car was ready … the Dorset lad on the other end said "the roads are chocablock because of the roadworks." I think the abbreviation to "chocka" is what's Liverpool though.

Entered at Thu Nov 26 15:07:13 CET 2015 from (99.249.67.189)

GregD

John D-thanks for that link of Anne Murray performing with Glen Campbell. I remember him performing at the CNE Grandstand in the summer of '69 or '70, can't remember which. According to Levon, the Band were invited on the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour to perform Up On Cripple Creek but walked out when they were required to perform it sitting on hay bales in the back of a pick-up truck or something like that.

Entered at Thu Nov 26 14:53:50 CET 2015 from (203.160.29.153)

Fred

This Klopp lad seems to know what he's doing. I say in 2 seasons Liverpool FC will once again reign supreme.

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John D

Subject: Glen Campbell Summer Show

He gave Canada's Anne Murray her first big American TV shot; on his summer show.

Entered at Thu Nov 26 13:33:11 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Yeah - seems we've landed a prize catch. And yeah - I've been really impressed both with your boss and your team!! Heartwarming stuff.

:-0)

Entered at Thu Nov 26 13:29:47 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Fred - your German's coming on mate!! D'you think we've finally got something right?!!

Spot on Pete. He seems to be a rare sort. Still not altogether sure why he chose to come because he could I'm sure have had most any position he wanted but I'm guessing it was the fact he saw the possibilities of revitalising a big name.

As you say I think Chocablock has been around from way back and I'm sure it was ubiquitous. As a kid I remember it mostly to do with having a flu/cold - ie I'm chocabloc with cold. Later, this would be abbreviated to "I'm 'chocca' with cold". Whether the abbreviation 'chocca' was widespread I couldn't say. These days in Liverpool the more common usage is the phrase the young lad used ie "me 'eads chocca" which is used in the sense of " me head's full/I'm stressed to feck" rather than 'confused' as you rightly say - albeit confusion may well be an accompanying factor as I'm sure we all know!!

Forgot about you being a distant Red too, Kev. Take a peek mate. It's good fun.

:-0)

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Roger

Subject: Jurgen

Brilliant video Al. I will show it to my 8 year old grandson. And what a nice guy - definite contender, with our Eddie, for manager of the year. And I speak as a dedicated fantasy footie manager.

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Fred

Al: : )

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Peter V

What an exceptionally charming guy! Outstandingly pleasant and a great communicator.

Al, "My head's chocka," to me that would come from "chockablock", i.e. full up. The lad suggested it was "confused" which might be about the same. It didn't seem uniquely Scouse to me (though my old writing partner worked in Liverpool for years, so I might have learned it from him).

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Bill M

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Al Edge

Subject: For Fred and Dunc [Si's probably seen it already]

I think you'll enjoy this fellas!

:-0)

Entered at Wed Nov 25 23:17:16 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Today the shop signs in Southampton, UK, read "BLACK FRIDAY SALES START THURSDAY. Black Friday is a new concept here. Unknown ten years ago, internet only four years ago. Everywhere last year and this. Of course we can start our Black Friday Sales on Thursday, as the day has no significance here! Just another dull November day.

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Bill M

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David P

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Bill M

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Ben

Subject: music

Nice to see some conversation about music here for a change.

I listened to the Mavericks version of 'Gentle on my mind' and was a little underwhelmed. I'm most familiar with Glen Campbell's version. But, my favorite version would be Elvis's from the Amnerican Studio sessions in 1969.

I enjoyed the comments about Springsteen and The river. I grew up (and currently live) about 10 miles from Freehold. My first exposure to Bruce was 'Hungry heart' which came out was about 11. The first Springsteen album that I bought was 'Nebraska' which came out when I started seriously listening to music. But that was completely overshadowed when 'Born in The USA' came out 1984. That album was huge. I think there were 6 or 7 singles from that album and when each new video premiered on MTV, it was an event. I think everyone in New Jersey was issued a copy of 'Born In the USA'. I remember my gym teacher playing a tape of it on a boombox during gym class one day. I think once a gym teacher is playing an album in class, it's a safe bet that it's reached mass saturation.

The last Springsteen album that I bought was 'The Seeger Sessions' which was quite good. I don't plan on buying this River box set, but I am looking forward to watching the documentary on HBO.

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David P

Entered at Wed Nov 25 20:29:27 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: BassmanLee - RAUL

Thanks Lee, as usual he does what he does great and in his own style.

There is another vid, he does Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" justice.

You are right about the Roy Orbison Peter. He also gets some real highs in "The Lion Sleeps".

Entered at Wed Nov 25 20:08:17 CET 2015 from (184.66.163.29)

JT

Subject: Peaches in Miami

I bought a lot of vinyl at Peaches in Miami when I lived in Dade in the mid-70s. I still have a lot of it. Brings back memories.

Entered at Wed Nov 25 19:08:24 CET 2015 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

I have some good friends who used to manage Peaches record stores down in south Florida. Both Raul Malo and Brian Warner (who later became known as Marilyn Manson) worked in different Peaches stores in that area before their music careers took off.

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Peter V

Entered at Wed Nov 25 16:21:30 CET 2015 from (67.84.78.24)

Jeff A.

Norm, here's what makes horse races.. You think Malo sings Gentle On My Mind better than anyone else and I think that he doesn't come close to either Hartford or Campbell. Aside from possessing wonderful voices & immense talent, both Campbell & Hartford sing with a natural humanity & genuineness. Yet, on the highest level of performance. But natural, easy, seemingly unstudied, & real. From inside, but natural... While Malo of course is a talented singer with a great voice, he leaves me empty. I've never felt any connection to his singing.The Mavericks got plenty of airplay years ago, & over the years in general... i was never moved or taken in by either Malo's singing, or the band's playing. I've never felt any real dynamics going on there.. Of course, a lot of people love their work.. But again, this is what makes horse races.

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bassmanlee

Subject: Raul Malo

Rockin' - Raul Malo could probably sing the phone book and make it shine. Thanks for the link, been listening to the Mavericks all morning. Check the link above at around 28:00 for his treatment of Ramblin' Rose.

Bob W if you are still out there send me a 'hey'. l e e (dot) d r e n d a l l (at) v e r i z o n (dot) n e t

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Gentle..........Pure Gold

This, one of the original of John Hartford, shows what the song is really all about. As a busker on the street this is how John portrayed this song. NOTE! He has taps on his shoes and they are miked! Just him and his banjo.

David Powell and I have shared words about John Hartford before. Although from New York, John Hartford became a Mississippi river boat pilot. There was no one ever like him, except perhaps his predecessor Jimmy Rogers.

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Rhythm Jimmy

Subject: Oxford American

Peter, why don't you just subscribe? It's cheap, at least here in the USA.

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Jeff A.

Subject: Hartford & Campbell

Man o man! Listen to these guys. The writer, and the guy that made it a world wide known song. Pure unadulterated beauty.

Entered at Wed Nov 25 01:50:09 CET 2015 from (67.84.78.52)

Jeff A.

Subject: Wih Willie Nelson's band this time

Can't get enough of Gentle On My Mind, Glenn's voice, or his guitar solos. thanks for the reminder Norm!

Entered at Wed Nov 25 01:44:57 CET 2015 from (67.84.78.52)

Jeff A.

Jaime Hanna, son of Jeff Hanna, was possibly a member of, or at least was a touring sideman that had songwriting credits on Maverick recordings.

Here's another great version of Gentle On My Mind. This guy certainly did the song justice.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 22:09:56 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Gentle on my Mind- The Mavericks

After a 9 year break, when the Mavericks got back together, this is what they were. Raul Malo sings this classic of John Hartford's better "IMHO" than any one any where.

If you were ever a young musician hiking along a dirt road with an instrument strapped to you, or driving down a dirt road, at some time you probably whistled or hummed this tume. It's hard not to.........

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JQ

PV - I got mine on Saturday and have been stuck on it since. I've likely listened to one track - Raggy Levi - 20 times; very simple but irresistible to me. That normally happens with these compilations. A couple songs I recall like that are Paul Burch's Forever Yours and Syd Selvidge's cover of Tom T Hall's That's How I Got To Memphis.

I've been at these since the get-go and all of those early ones remain top notch and played all the time. I believe you can still get past editions at their web site - you're going to really like it!

Entered at Tue Nov 24 20:02:25 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

:-0)

I think with me Bob it's a case of not discovering him until The River. For whatever reason - most likely preoccupation with the kids or ailing folks - Born To Run never impacted upon me first time round.

I discovered those earlier goldmines a few years after The River.

The River in contrast hit me full square in the mush at the time of its release. Critically as you say Bob it does probably fall below the other two and perhaps Nebraska and Tunnel of Love as well. It is all over the place as well I guess but your first love never leaves you I guess.

:-0)

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Joan

Subject: Thnksgiving

rWas traditionally played at Thanksgiving morning on WNEW fm violates great disc jockey Pete Fornatale. it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without this. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone

Entered at Tue Nov 24 17:25:19 CET 2015 from (69.112.112.120)

Bob F.

Al, I agree with everything you and Kev are saying about album 2 of The River. I love both records. I still rank Born to Run and Darkness just a tad higher. Born to Run is where he fulfilled the promise. With Darkness he unleashed the wolves, sending all the doubters home, crying for their momma's.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 15:55:53 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Same with me Kev. It truly does vie with Big Pink, Brown Album and Astral Weeks as my own all time stand out album. Don't get me wrong I love album 1 but 2 is just incredible in its sustained timeless quality and balance.

Point Blank,
Cadillac Ranch,
I'm A Rocker,
Fade Away,
Stolen Car,
Ramrod,
The Price You Pay,
Drive All Night,
Wreck on the Highway

Entered at Tue Nov 24 15:41:10 CET 2015 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

One of Skip Spence's best songs is "My Best Friend", recorded by Jefferson Airplane for the album "Surrealistic Pillow" after he'd left the group.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 15:20:02 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Still somewhat of a mess...

I spoke too soon. I was able to hear the tracks from a file on my desktop but when I click on the songs within iTunes, it says that the track cannot be located. So its not all perfect. I do have the tracks though (all 379 listed correctly in iTunes; 379 in a mess in a file on my desktop) When I click on the desktop file for any song, it will play, but the numbering is all screwed up. So, still problems....

Entered at Tue Nov 24 14:35:27 CET 2015 from (68.171.246.28)

Bill M

David P: Thanks - Plant does a terrific version of "Little Hands". I guess it's because we've been discussing Love at the same time that it occurred to me that Skip Spence may have been thinking of Love's "Alone Again Or" when he decided to title his solo album "Oar".

This would be a good time to ask if there's something in the Robert Plant canon that sounds like "Chinese Song" (from the unjustly neglected "20 Granite Creek") with words. I have a vague recollection of hearing something like that on the radio years ago.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 13:54:57 CET 2015 from (24.114.77.27)

Kevin J

Funny how some albums stand out in the memory for certain sides or a sequence of songs......Whenever I think of The River, I immediately remember the side that starts with "Point Blank" and "Cadillac Ranch"..........same with Rock of Ages and side 2 with "Stage Fright" and "TNTDODD"

Entered at Tue Nov 24 12:24:40 CET 2015 from (70.193.139.104)

David P

Bill M: Robert Plant recorded a great cover version of "Little Hands" for the "More Oar" Skip Spence tribute CD released in 1999.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 11:39:10 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Cheers for that Bob. There's no words.

:-0)

But I'll give it a go.

Such great memories of the adrenaline rush this injects at a live show when the realisation that those first few ringing notes signify he's performing this incredible piece of totally underrated rock 'n' roll.

I recall in particular one concert at Old Trafford Cricket ground. I'd gone with some friends who were not fans but I'd persuaded to 'at least take a look at him live' as it were.

We were sat in the stands and I'd been itching to get down on the pitch moreorless from the start to go with the flow but none of them were reacting much to the music so I'd pretty well followed suit and sat in my seat like some restrained Anfield mainstander.

Then that incredible opening guitar riff rang out. Well, the adrenaline kicked in instantly. Before I'd even drawn breath, there I was teararsing down about 30 steps as if my life depended upon it and bounding onto that fucking pitch like some demented loon to give it the full Ramrod works cavorting about with all the other like-minded Ramrod nutjobs!

Cheers again Bob.

:-0)

Entered at Tue Nov 24 09:10:19 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I just put in my order for the Oxford American Music Issue, December 2015. They can post to the UK. As David P may explore further, I’ll simply say it’s “Georgia” this year … Alabama and Tennessee were superb. I never managed to get Louisiana.

On compilation albums, ACE’s latest is “Jon Savage’s 1966” a 2 CD set to accompany his book “1966 – The year the decade exploded.” I ordered both, and have started on the CD, but not the book. The combination of well-known with obscure is first rate … and yes, Love’s “7 and & 7 Is” features.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 03:35:18 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Success

Today, I received an e-mail regarding the 18 cds/379 tracks of Cutting Edge. I am happy to report that I have been able in 1 try over 25 minutes to successfully place the 379 tracks properly organized without any further adjustments into my iTunes.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 03:12:31 CET 2015 from (65.92.195.13)

Bill M

I checked the MP3 playlist book: there's a Plant solo list, but no Skip Spence / Moby Grape songs are on it - so I've linked to Plant's version of "Skip's Song".

For the record, Robyn Hitchcock's Band top 10 is: "Caledonia Mission", TNTDODD, "Whispering Pines", Walcott, "Chest Fever", "King Harvest", IMND, "The Shape I'm In", "Don't Do It", "All La Glory" - with nice little write-ups for each.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 02:46:37 CET 2015 from (24.114.77.27)

Kevin J

I love these stories, John. Just the thought of being there and taking it all in....I guess you all knew it was a big time event, but who could have known it would go on to be such a celebrated film and legendary rock n roll happening.......Not many can say they were there - you can......something else.....and almost for Mike Nomad - I like that one.

......and for those that don't know, Rollie was Jeff Newsom, an excellent musician in his own right.....I should have noted that earlier.

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John D

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John D

Kevin. All the musicians were staying at the Miyako Hotel. Interestingly I was staying across the street at the Kyoto. Miyako Full. However spent all my time there. That hotel had never seen so many musicians wanting room service.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 01:36:37 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.166)

Jeff A.

Subject: Protection

According to this guy. NYC may now be the safest place in the U.S. with regards to terror activity. . Of course, he forgot about attacks by air and sea. including that attack referred to as Sept 11.

Entered at Tue Nov 24 00:48:30 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.166)

Jeff A.

I did see Andes later that spring. At the Bitter End.the Bitter End didn't ever card me, my hair was down to my elbows, i looked a lot older. i saw some great shows there, underage. This was supposed to be a Chris Hillman show. Hillman had Rick Roberts & Jock Bartley in his band, & Mark Andes too. I remember Merle Bergante was Hillman's drummer on solo tours around that time.... but Hillman took sick. Firefall, though still not named, had been rehearsing, and working out all the material for the frst album at the time. So Roberts got The Bitter End to give them the dates, they flew Clarke & Burnett in.....& did a showcase. I remember when we got to the club, there was a handwritten sign on construction paper on the door stating that Hillman was ill, but Rick Roberts, Jock Bartley, Michael Clarke, Mark Andes, & Larry Burnett would be performing. the only name i didn't knwo was Burnette's, and though i loved Hillman's music, i was psyched for this. IT was Firefalls debut, and they kicked ass. We stayed for both sets, and i tihnk i went back the next night too. Those dates got them signed.. Next time i saw Andes play was again with Firefall, in 1977 in Stockton, California. (I think the last time i saw Rick Roberts perform was the 85 shows at The Lone Star.....that Gene Clark tour that The Burritos opened.Part of the night you had Ricks Danko & Roberts, Gene Clark, Blondie Chaplin, & even part of the tour, Richard Manuel singing together....)talk about voices....)

Thing you remember- i wanna say that construction paper on the bitter end door was yellow, & the magic marker was red. But wouldn't stake my life on it/

Entered at Mon Nov 23 22:49:07 CET 2015 from (68.171.246.151)

Bill M

JT: You're right that there's nothing like 7&7IS, though my favourite of their LPs is their last, a double on Blue Thumb. Wish I still had it.

Speaking of Spirit, they rated their own top 10 in that Rough Guide to MP3 Playlists I mentioned. More post Sardonicu stuff than I'd've thought possible, including a version of LARS and Jo Jo Gunne's "Run". No Moby Grape though. I guess I should check if there's a Robert Plant list, in which case there MAY be a Skip Spence cover.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 21:31:31 CET 2015 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Entered at Mon Nov 23 21:07:40 CET 2015 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: The Weight

Yeah, somewhere, any time, someone is playing the Weight...but not my guys! For the past year or more I've been playing with a couple of guys once a week (and an occasional gig) playing music of the 50's and 60's...Elvis, Chuck, Beatles, Stones, Merseybeat stuff, Dion, Buddy Holly, etc. When I started with them, they TRIED to play The Weight. Now these guys generally do a decent job on the aforementioned material. But they had absolutely NO feel for the "ragged but right" cadence of Our Boys. Finally I (me, BIG time Band fan) had to pull the plug. Great song, guys, just not for us!

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Peter M

Subject: Spirit

Did somebody mention Spirit? I've been friends with their former bass player, Mark Andes, through his association with Ian McLagen's Bump Band. He's also played with Heart, Jo Jo Gunne, Alejandro Escovedo, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Canned Heat and Firefall. Helluva nice guy, and dead-on bass player.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 20:22:28 CET 2015 from (184.66.163.29)

JT

Subject: Da Capo and Forever Changes

These are the 2 Love albums I enjoy and I keep going back to them.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 19:54:02 CET 2015 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Love's third album, "Forever Changes", released in November 1967, was not a commercial success at the time. However, over the years it's now ranked on many best album lists.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 19:40:00 CET 2015 from (184.145.67.135)

Mike Nomad

So good to read again, Kevin. Ah . . . Jack Wingate, R.I.P. I SO should have listened to him that fateful night when he tried to persuade me to head west for that glorious event. What was I thinking? [Sniff]

Entered at Mon Nov 23 19:26:47 CET 2015 from (69.112.112.120)

Bob F.

Subject: Ramrod

Al, thank you. I love that version of Stolen Car. Have you seen this clip of Ramrod from the box? Amazing.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 18:43:53 CET 2015 from (76.71.4.249)

Kevin J

Love - the band - is an example of the best part of this GB pub. Until today, I had never heard of them.....so, thank you.

With activity low, I drifted to the archives and at November 2013 came across a great post from bob w - which reprinted a story from late great Rollie and his memories of going to TLW with Garth. Here is Rollie's story:

"...traveling from Salt Lake to S.F. in Garths's Mercedes , piloted by the one and only David Boyle. I'm 18. Dave is in his 40's? late 30's? I'm sure he doesn't know what to make of me. I sure as hell don't know what to make of him. Somewhere out in the Nevada desert he asks me if I've ever smoked pot. Not wanting to lie , but not wanting to confess to someone close to my fathers age(sort of)I suggest I may have tried it once or twice. "Good" , he says, "reach into my coat pocket". I'm catatonic until we reach Mill Valley. I do recall at one point he pulled out some canned brown bread and sardines. They disappeared quickly! Mill Valley appears thru the fog(yes both kinds!)We reach the home of a young damsel who is obviously very interested in David, but barely notices the young squire standing next to him. Off they go somewhere into the domicile, me to the couch.

Make it into SF the next day, where I check into the Miyako Hotel(or is it Kyoto? Godfrey or Donabie wanna help me here?) I'm settling in chillin out, when an older guy comes in. What kind of people is my sister hangin out with I wonder? Jack Wingate is the fellows name, long time raconteur and pal to the Band. He's beginning to get the sense he may be in charge of baby sitting me, when a rather neandrathal-ish figure strolls in with a cowboy hat, and steals Jack away. I don't know who the guy is until I see him on stage the next day. Ronnie Hawkins. Down to lunch with Garth,sis, and some other folks. Levon and Rick come strolling thru and steam is emanating from Levons head.We duck back into our lunches. Lunch over,we help Garth prepare for the big gig,ie; a trip to the hardware store!!!! Now I'm sure musicians are total screwballs!!!!!!!

Back to the Lobby of the hotel,sis and I take a breather and have a seat. In thru the front doors comes Gods messenger. Muddy Waters! with Pinetop Perkins close behind. They sit down no more than five feet from us, waiting for their bags to be brought in. At that point in my life(and to this day)there existed no greater a human being. I've since heard that when Muddy walked into a room , you could feel his presence, stateliness. To be ssure , I sat stunned, mesmerized. I forever want to go back to that moment, and hold the conversation I didn't have the nerve to discuss then. A few hrs later, I'm waiting for Bill Grahams son to bring the motor home around to the hotel to take guests down to the Winterland to check out rehearsals. I'm blown away when he shows up!! He can't be more than 12? 13? Should I get in? He can't even see over the wheel!!!!! Fuck it! I'm definitely on this bus!!! The floor of the Winterland is sparse compared to the onslaught the following evening. Scorcese and Bill Graham are getting into it......Joni Mitchell-riveting, Clapton, cookin. This is the rehearsal??? The day of the show, some photographer hands me the set list , and as a prank, tells me to call out the name of the songs before they happen.(yep, you can me hear hollering before "Ophelia" and Robbie replying "You got it" on the recording. Fascinating ,eh??" Could the photographer have been Elliot Landy?

Get down to the Winterland early.5:30ish ---Everybody gets fed the full on Thanksgiving dinner. Tables cover the entire floor. Dinner over, Ballroom dancing. A boogie - woogie piano player either preceeded or followed this. Bill Graham introduces the show "Good Evening". You know the rest. Ahh, the good old days. Garth picks up the newspaper the following morning, which announces that Robertson has led the Band thru the Last Waltz, or something to that effect."Fuckin guitar players get all the credit" he mumbles in mock disgust. Down the hall we go to breakfast, when we're cut off by a haggard looking Neil Young. "How bout a little O'Canada, Garth" he says brandishing a harmonica. We wander off, with the Canadian national anthem trailing in the distance, my last remembrance of a mind blowing event."

Happy Thanksgiving

Entered at Mon Nov 23 17:36:09 CET 2015 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Love were a fine band. They were one among the many great bands from the 60's that didn't get the recognition they deserved. Some others that spring to mind are Spirit, Moby Grape, Soft Machine and The Pretty Things.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 16:37:39 CET 2015 from (99.168.98.255)

Zzzz

Hey crew, hope all is well. Just passing through... looking up to see that Lars doesn't fall from a tree on me... as I 2-finger peck here. I live in Texas, the past 3 yrs now... teaching Engineering and Audio Video technology to HS youth In Forney. Anyway, been renting CDs from Plano Public Library... and I grabbed a Beau Brummels with One Too Many Mornings. They changed the chorus a wee bit but it worked in a weird 60's sort of way. I love love LOVE the Richard version on BTs. Oh well, can't escape the pull of girlfriend wanting me to set up Holiday knick knacks... so until next time: Be right on your side while I write on mine haha.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 16:27:19 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Fuzz

Electric Prunes: Also fuzz guitar but nothing in percussion that approached '7 & 7 is'.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 15:37:00 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Love

There is nothing in the musical lexicon that sounds remotely like 'Seven and Seven Is'. And Love's take on 'My Little Red Book' is eye-opening.

These two songs captured me when they were released and stay with me now. They are diamonds in my iTunes.

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Peter V

Subject: Love- Toppermost link

I'd better put the main Toppermost link to "Love" too.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 12:49:34 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Love

Very good article by David Tanner on Toppermost" on Love. The link comes from the article … Arthur Lee and Love doing "Alone Again Or" on the Jools Holland Show in 2003. Magnificent.

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Mike Nomad

Entered at Mon Nov 23 03:01:10 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

I loved this guys work a long time now. I'm pretty sure some of you were discussing him several months back. Since I just read this article, i'm passing it on.

Regarding The Weight, Bill M., I'd expect there's more than one band playing that song live somewhere, every night.

Entered at Mon Nov 23 00:37:52 CET 2015 from (69.112.112.120)

Bob F.

Professor Louie and The Crowmatix always encore with The Weight. Louie always has the opening act on stage taking a verse. Class act. Always.

Entered at Sun Nov 22 15:43:33 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

Bernie Speaks Brooklynese. ... ..Though he moved out a long time ago, he's a typical New Yorker. It doesn't go away.

Entered at Sun Nov 22 01:41:36 CET 2015 from (65.92.195.13)

Bill M

Subject: "The Weight" lives, live

"The Weight" was played live onstage by a real group somewhere in the world today. I witnessed Johnny Wright, backed by Rob Theodore (aka Robbie Rox) on conga and backing vocals and Brian Fraser on piano, performing the sacred song at the Outrigger in Toronto's Beach neighbourhood at 16:00 EST (21:00 GMT).

Let's see if the song can be heard somewhere else tomorrow and the day after, etc. Reports from the field are encouraged.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 19:36:17 CET 2015 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Subject: bootlegs

Bob F, I happen to collect and enjoy bootlegs of Dylan, The Band and other artists. I have a pretty good collection and as a fan of these recordings, I would be happy if Dylan (and The Band) simply copied some bootlegs and released them.

Some artists have already done this, such as Zappa, Graham Parker and Deep Purple.

The sound quality of bootlegs vary tremendously, some are excellent and other are lousy, but I'm happy to have a less than stellar quality copy of a worthwhile performance that would be otherwise unavailable.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 19:27:11 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

Now, that's more like the GB humor that everyone really appreciates. I can almost hear you all laughing.

Love ya Al. And you know that. :-)

Entered at Sat Nov 21 18:44:26 CET 2015 from (24.114.77.27)

Kevin J

Carmen..........do remember that this is Band land and some great ones have left and come back........Garth, Levon, Richard, Rick, David P, Al Edge.......hell, Al pulled a bit of an RR and left us for half a decade at one point - the renegade GB years as I recall !

Entered at Sat Nov 21 18:31:20 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 18:16:26 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

Kevin, Not all that long ago, but in August or September, I wrote to Norm that how one looks at words is important, because words can mean a lot of things. How some one writes words is just as important. For quite some years now I've tried to be careful to write exactly what i mean here. I know i don't succeed all the time or fully but i usually remember to attempt to do so. In a hurry, anything can happen, as with anyone.... I interpreted your post in the context of the discussion we were all having, on & off. You may want to go look at the discussion and especially the several posts prior to yours to me. Cause you did not post in a vacuum...I think the way i interpreted your post in that light is not out of line. Now that you assign a separate or less connected meaning to it, i can see what you hoped to & in my eyes failed to communicate in context.

As i hinted at a little in the beginning of this post, there's many parts to communication. Transmission & reception might cover all the other parts. But no matter what, transmission and reception are there and enormous. i don't think it unreasonable of me to now state that had you indicated a break in the discussion, or that you were on a slight tangent, or had yous started out writing,- Hey guys, help me out here, I'm getting very bummed out by the world & i need a change. Yes, we're having a discussion, but maybe you guys can humor me & we can all change the subject. Jeff , I'd like to hear one of your stories.- or something along those lines- I might have responded very differently & typed out a story.. But in context, your post seemed to indicate TO ME, that you thought it was okay for you to post politically when you wanted but everyone else should just drop it....

Although it was not the only way to interpret or respond, i do think the way i interpreted your actual post was reasonable. I went out of my way to be funny responding to how i interpreted your post. which absolutley, yes, it appeared you were writing hey Jeff, enough with the political posts. I'm tired of it. Which of course anyone can write, but should be careful how they do..And you mentioned no other name.

There's more to discuss. The musical is in development.It's only a very low level side project.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 17:50:55 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Or interfering busy body as the case may be.

:-0)

If I can be presumptuous enough to act as mediator.

Jeff I can see why you might have possibly felt Kev was taking the piss. This Guest Book isn't the best for clear conveyance of sentiments and it's easy to take things the wrong way - but I'll 100% back up Kev that he was actually paying you a well merited compliment. Some weeks back I recall he posted a similar post praising your larger than life slices/tales of everyday Brooklyn.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 17:40:19 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Subject: Carmen on the level/Bob F and The River

Carmen - no fecking way you're leaving me and Pete M as the sole WD survivors!!

Bob - really good to see you back. Excited about The River. Put this up last month.

It was the time I first made the connection with the fella.

The Born to Run single had impacted some years earlier of course but really it had all but passed me by and he was no more than a 'name' to me.

Anyroad, on the very first play of the tape of The River it hit me like a juggernaut. The energy. The exuberance. The fun. And then all that passion, all that hurt and anger. Above all that erudite insight into the ordinary human condition and mindset which nobody has ever seemed to do quite so intuitively as Bruce and all woven into this endless array of fantastic music with ballads and doo wop and angst and rockers that actually took 50's style rock 'n' roll to new places you'd never before considered. Unreal. I hadn't heard anything remotely like it before. Haven't since. I return to it all the time. Even after 35 years!!

Like right this minute in fact.

:)

Link to probably the best live video take on Stolen Car - muscles and all!!

Entered at Sat Nov 21 17:09:10 CET 2015 from (24.114.77.27)

Kevin J

Todd: I liked that memory of that bar you spent some good times in lower east side of Manhattan. I find it very helpful in times of trouble in my life to reflect back to places like that and remember the laughs and adventures.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 16:14:37 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: The music

And the music, as Peter says: I for a minute there forgot about the music. Something I keep writing about here. Our readers know about the music and you teach me. And I am a student for life! But whether politics or music or whatever (I hate that word but it may be correct in this context), keep posting and teach me. I'm your avid student.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 16:02:50 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: "Napoleon in rags"

I've been dismayed at the rancour at this GB site often, Carmen. I've shut off my input on occasion only to return when I've cooled off. The recent world troubles have brought this feeling to the fore again.

However, like others, I see that often cooler heads prevail. Anger is an impulse. Sure, it probably brings out people's true feelings more often than not. But those feelings should be tempered by an understanding that individuals can see things differently. Debate is good. Demeaning language discrediting another's point of view to make one's point only diminishes the writer or speaker and makes her/him less credible. (There are many who have ideas that are lost in the mire of verbal arrogance and often stupidity as the idea is lost in foul language and often hate fuelled by anger Gov. Christie is one example: Trump is another current example.. in that mess, maybe some good ideas but who can take him seriously).

It reminds me of the line in Dylan's opus: "You used to be so amused At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used". The context is different but the sarcasm says it all... "Go to him...." My advice for what its worth: Develop a thick skin, tolerate the negative and put it where it belongs, in the trash. Find the essence of what is good and leave the bad behind. Keep posting. Respond with measured logic and leave the swearing and put-downs to others. Deal with verbal stupidity with common sense and reason. It works!

Your readers will appreciate your input. 12 years and you've still got tons to say that I want to hear. I can't hear you if you don't talk to me. Like me, give it another shot if you are able. Sticks and stones...

Entered at Sat Nov 21 15:08:00 CET 2015 from (69.112.112.120)

Bob F.

Carmen, my political views are to the left of Bernie Sanders. That said, I would really miss your posts. There are many liberals on the GB I would banish to the wilderness before you. In fact most of them. lol. Come on, we got The River Box to talk about in a couple of weeks.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 13:41:36 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sat Nov 21 12:43:22 CET 2015 from (70.193.141.233)

David P

Dr. John attended The Band's Academy of Music New Year's eve concert with his friend Doc Pomus, who also knew the guys from their days with Ronnie Hawkins.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 12:36:07 CET 2015 from (76.98.218.136)

Carmen

Subject: GB

Been a great run with over 12 years of posts - just not the same so signing off - if your interested in music - nothing new in the GB - Best Regards to all the true music lovers who brought great discussion over the years.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 04:42:15 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

Subject: For Kevin. Explosions, .. relief, & The Danko Shuffle all in one link .

Kevin, looking for relief?
You must really need a good laugh, cause it seems........ You must have gotten out the bubble bath and plastic toy ships and took to playing captain in the bath tub.

You gotta be joking. :-)
I've never been a tit for tat kind of guy, but that post of yours is so off the wall that i hadda laugh but then count. Since you began the Paris Bombing discussion here you've made 10 political posts. 9 -10 fully political ones, and one with three sentences at the end.. So offering directives, even saying please- Whaddya think that I'm in your bubble bath navy?. There's only room for you in that tub man..... Now since you thought it was so damn funny before, do like Norm says, & shut the fuck up. That's funny. Now lets be clear. I don't want you to stop posting, change how you post, or to shut the fuck up, but it's now accepted humor here, so lets all have a laugh.. On the count of three. Ha Ha :-) One more time. Shut the fuck up. Ha Ha

Good night Kevin :-) I'm laughing my ass off, bet you are too :-)

Entered at Sat Nov 21 04:41:56 CET 2015 from (97.127.4.158)

Rhythm Jimmy

Subject: "Such a Night"

Link to Dr. John at the Last Waltz (thanks for the nudge, David).

From his autobiography, "Under a Hoodoo Moon" (which is a real hoot!), with reference to The Band: "These were cats I had known from my days on the chitlin' circuit way back when; back then, they'd been playing with Ronnie Hawkins and I was working funky little road dates in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas with my band."

Entered at Sat Nov 21 02:10:16 CET 2015 from (82.22.145.205)

Ian W

I guess it depends on where and when you're driving, Bill M. Earlier this week, we were driving back from the Midlands in rain that was fairly heavy with vehicles throwing up sufficient spray from the road surface for most drivers to have switched on their rear fog lights. And most drivers had dropped their speed because of the conditions but some, a minority to be fair, were driving along the outside lane faster than speed limit and, in a couple of cases, turning at high speed across several lanes of traffic to make an exit point. Then, earlier today, on the way to collect someone from our local airport, I was driving along a fairly ordinary road behind two cars driving a little below the speed limit. The road was bending gently with no clear view ahead for me, let alone the impatient maniac behind who still saw fit to roar past mine and the other two vehicles, well over the speed limit and with no idea if anything was coming in the opposite direction. Nothing was, fortunately, but the idiot didn't know that.

I don't have a SatNav but the the car I rented in the States had one built in ( so there was no need to look down at the map, as each instruction appeared on the dashboard in front of me), On a few occasions, it was of great help and got us out of tight spots in the dark on unlit and badly signposted roads. But there were moments when I cursed the voice issuing instructions. A sudden "Exit in 400 feet" uttered at the very point I should have turned off resulted in detour of several miles, as the turn indicated led me on to an Interstate with several exits closed for construction work. And, on another occasion, the SatNav knew that there was a roundabout ahead but didn't know that the road I was on went straight through the roundabout (controlled by lights) and then, having taken me off the right road, instructed me to make a U-turn when possible - not easy on a very busy road in the rush hour. A mixed blessing, I guess.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 02:06:16 CET 2015 from (174.236.35.70)

Todd

Subject: Beer and Music

Great suggestion Kevin!
Although I won't be breaking out the guitar, I did pick up some Negra Modello beer, and will enjoy a couple of those tonight. It was one of my favorite beers that I used to drink about 10 years ago at Banjo Jim's, which was a corner bar on the lower East side of Manhattan where Ollabelle used to play many informal gigs.
Good memories of those days.

Was thinking about family on my way home tonight as we've had some funerals recently, and It occurred to me that on one side of my family, both of my Great Grandparents came to the United States from England as orphans, around the turn of the century, met, married, and started a family. The other side of my family came much earlier during the Puritan migration, but I'll save some of that for another day.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 01:05:02 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Kevin, the Black Cab expression is, “I’ve had (xxx) in the back of this cab.” And they have. I don’t think the Uber model will go in London. It certainly shouldn’t go. These guys have studied long and hard and in their exam have to know the fastest way to any address in London at various times of day. The Uber model means a guy in a car with a Sat Nav … and I think Sat Navs (GPS) are dangerous in city centres – you can watch lights and pedestrians, or the Sat Nav, but one has to go. There’s also a safety factor in cabs that look like cabs with a license plate. Also Sat Navs are SO often wrong. Mine believes I can drive down three flights of steps to get to the National Theatre. The manufacturer says “Ah, but we can’t be totally up to date.” Well, those steps were installed in the 1860s. It has no idea of London one-way streets in 2015, though apparently it’s pretty good for 2008. it’s built in.

Entered at Sat Nov 21 00:27:23 CET 2015 from (76.71.4.249)

Kevin J

Time for some beer and music. Thanks for the info on Mavis, brown eyed girl. I love your spirit.

Sadavid: Naheed Nenshi is a wise man. So much so that it's surprising he got elected in Calgary. Progress.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 22:49:16 CET 2015 from (174.236.35.70)

Todd

Subject: 180

Bill M, Yes it does appear that way. ;-)

The angle that I was going after, but probably didn’t express as well as I could have, is that our leadership (acting our representatives) was sticking it’s head in the sand, underestimating the threat (at least publicly), and generally downplaying the danger, for the sake of political advantage vs. actually protecting and serving. Calling ISIS JV and saying (on the very same day as the Paris attacks) that they’ve been contained is either disingenuous or disengaged or unaware. Seemed more like politics rather than leadership.

But on a personal level, there’s only so much we can do as far as directly dealing with the threat. So I thought that rather than bickering and divisiveness, it would be a better use of our energies to be nice to each other…not just here specifically, but in all of our dealings with people in the normal course of our lives. And perhaps goodness and kindness could spread, rather than hatred and negativity…and ultimately that may be our saving grace. A unified front of good to combat evil.

Of course I know that’s easier said than done, and I’m just as guilty as having a pissy day and sharing that with others as anyone….but I’m working on it!

Sadavid, Point taken about the ease of travel between places with just a basic passport, but that begs the question of why do so many terrorists seem to have passports? Are they issued by the same folks that we are entrusting to keep us safe from these types of threats? And I doubt that anyone will be crossing the Atlantic ocean in a leaky boat, but I could see how that may be more of an option on the Mediterranean.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 22:21:07 CET 2015 from (70.193.141.233)

David P

Can't stop listening to the new Dr. John CD compilation "The Atco/Atlantic Singles 1968-1974. Included are 22 recordings that put Mac Rebennack, in the guise of Dr. John, on the music map. Featured are the groundbreaking cuts produced by Harold Battiste, Allen Toussaint and others. This great sounding compilation was produced by Cheryl Pawelski for Omnivore Recordings. Ms. Pawelski, as many may recall, previously worked on Capitol's ŕemastering of The Band catalog. Included are informative liner notes written by Gene Sculatti. One interesting tidbit is that it was the late great. Mr. Toussaint who came up with "music-hall, soft-shoe arrangement" for "Such A Night", which was later reprised with The Band at the Last Waltz.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 21:43:58 CET 2015 from (68.171.246.128)

Bill M

Ian W: I'm surprised. We just got back from England where once again we were impressed with how well behaved almost all the drivers were, and how their sense of space seemed more finely honed.

Al E: Thought of you when I saw a Hillsiders LP in a charity shop, but didn't by it. Nor did I buy the LP by the (Liverpool?) Spinners. Did buy the Rough Guide to MP3 Playlists (or similar title) because it had Robyn Hitchcock's sound Band top ten. Elsewhere, our guys' version of "When I Paint" made the list of top-ten covers.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 21:21:37 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 19:44:19 CET 2015 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Not an opinion, just an observation. We Americans love to demonstrate our sincere care and gratitude, as we should, to the hundreds of thousands of our countrymen who have died for our freedoms. Yet, when we get scared we don't seem inclined to risk any harm to ourselves to preserve those hard-won freedoms. E.G. The rapturous applause when Trump said he would register all American Muslims. The NSA spying deal is likely part of that forfeit to a degree also -

Entered at Fri Nov 20 19:32:40 CET 2015 from (100.2.21.114)

Joan

I've had some notable taxi rides. My first time in London it was late in the evening and our Driver was taking us to address on Gloucester Road. He couldn't find the address and drove back and forth two times or three times. When he finally found it was a little ways in off Gloucester Road. He was so embarrassed by his not knowing that he refused to accept a tip./n . New York taxi drivers are another breed. The older guys knew all the streets and the best way to go. They would talk your ear off if you wanted to and they were very savvy Not so much anymore

Entered at Fri Nov 20 18:22:45 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

No one can argue about this. See the link.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 17:37:18 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

Subject: Gun Control In Tennessee

See the link.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 17:15:49 CET 2015 from (131.137.34.213)

sadavid

Subject: perspective

Kevin J: It's a good point; I like the way Calgary's Muslim mayor Naheed Nenshi puts it:

"He said if he was organizing a plot to infiltrate Canada, he would consider the fact that terrorists were able to get people in France and Belgium to do horrible things inside their own countries. “If someone pulls out a French passport, they can be in Calgary in seven hours,” the mayor said, “without checks of any kind.

“So why would I want to embed bad guys, put them on leaky boats where they could die, have them sit in a refugee camp possibly for 18 months, in the hopes they might end up in a country where they might want to do bad stuff? It’s way easier to do bad stuff in other ways.”"

Entered at Fri Nov 20 17:00:44 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.47)

Jeff A.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 16:55:46 CET 2015 from (70.51.83.14)

brown eyed girl

MAY 11, 2015
BY SOMETHING ELSE!
Mavis Staples recalls lasting impact of the Band’s ‘Last Waltz,’ Rick Danko’s humor + Bob Dylan’s hair

Entered at Fri Nov 20 16:41:40 CET 2015 from (32.216.240.43)

Todd

Subject: Appeasement

Kevin, Perhaps it is a loaded word, but not every definition of appeasement is necessarily so.

But whatever the case, it seems that the burden has been placed on us to make sure that we don't offend anyone...especially terrorists, and then just maybe they will like us and stop the attacks. To me it smacks of blaming the victims for being attacked.

The failure, it seems to me, is that our leaders are so wrapped up in political spin and party divisiveness that it clouds their judgement, and there's an honesty that's conspicuously absent. They'll do or say anything to get elected/re-elected, even if it means sweeping a known problem under the carpet, or minimizing it. Failure to honestly identify a problem precludes any real chance of a solution. And the gang in Washington DC is famous for that. It's always about blaming someone else.

Regarding the refugee crisis, we (and every other civilized society) should do everything possible to help out on a humanitarian level. But many people are starting to lose trust that the powers that be can do anything competently, and there is a real fear that some terrorists will find the weak spot and infiltrate the refugee population. And it's disingenuous for the administration to portray the entire refugee population as "widows and 3 year old orphans". If that's how they want to spin it politically, then maybe we should only admit "widows and 3 year old orphans". But that's a fundamentally dishonest assessment of the situation. Not to mention that there's a responsibility to the widows and 3 year old orphans already in this country.

Ben, Regarding the bootlegs, I'd settle for a somewhat lower sound quality, if it was a bare bones release at a much lower price, and if it meant we'd get more releases more often.....but at the prices these sets go for, I'd prefer the best quality source.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 16:38:18 CET 2015 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

PV - Great one! hadn't heard that song since it came out, 1970?

Entered at Fri Nov 20 16:15:24 CET 2015 from (70.51.83.14)

brown eyed girl

Hi Ian. Can you pop over to Amsterdam by November 28?
Other upcoming "Mavis!" screenings as well.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 16:13:21 CET 2015 from (24.114.52.159)

Kevin J

Just about every Isis member involved in every attack over the last few years has been an EU passport holder. 20 Million EU passport holders have made visits to the US in 2015.......completely un vetted as tourist arrivals are, of course. Just as US and Canadian passport holders can easily enter Europe.......and yet entire political parties and news networks are completely comfortable in making 25,000 refugees (that will be subject to an 18 month vetting per laws already on books) out to be a great threat to our civilization. Sickening !

Entered at Fri Nov 20 16:04:57 CET 2015 from (69.112.112.120)

Bob F.

Ben, I'm not sure what you're talking about. The live shows released as part of The Bootleg Series have been amazing. I don't want to pay good money for crappy sounding shows. Actually, the benchmark for live releases is Bruce Springsteen. He's releasing the highest quality shows at very fair prices. My only gripe with Dylan's Bootleg Series is the price of the deluxe box's. The quality of the presentation has been near perfect.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 15:54:01 CET 2015 from (24.114.52.159)

Kevin J

I had a conversation about Uber with one of the black taxi drivers ( "black" meaning the famous taxi type in London - not skin colour of driver ) while there a few weeks back, and he noted that he didn't think the Uber business plan would work in London.....he explained that he had studied for 6 years to pass the exams and get his license......even explaining that he and his brother would ride their bikes all over town for months on end learning and memorizing neighbourhoods and routes.....While talking music, he proudly told me that Rod Stewart had been in his cab and that he was a "lovely guy".......I liked that one.

Todd: "Appeasement" is a loaded word that is not at all applicable in this case. Looking more in the direction of the mis-guided "acceptance" and support of declared Allies like Saudi Arabia would be a better avenue to ensuring the long term safety of citizens.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 15:43:42 CET 2015 from (70.51.83.14)

brown eyed girl

Touching video of father reassuring boy after Paris attacks goes viral

Entered at Fri Nov 20 14:24:05 CET 2015 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Todd, I'm planning on picking up the 2 disc version of 'The Cutting Edge' at some point. My enthusiasm for this set is a bit muted as some of this material has been covered on previous sets.

I would actually prefer if Dylan changed his approach to the bootleg series and instead of cleaning up the sound and compiling these theme sets, they simply took some of the bootlegs that have come out over the years and released them himself.

One of the joys of bootlegs is that they are not perfect and sanitized. Other artists such as Frank Zappa, Graham Parker and Deep Purple have done these type of releases already.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 13:03:58 CET 2015 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

R.I.P. Ron Hynes.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 11:52:23 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: P.F. Sloan

RIP P.F. Sloan … I hadn't seen it till reading yesterday's paper with my coffee. As well as Eve of Destruction, another claim to fame is the guitar intro to California Dreamin' when part of the Wrecking Crew.

Link to Rumer singing Jimmy Webb's superb song "P.F. Sloan."

Entered at Fri Nov 20 10:53:42 CET 2015 from (82.22.145.205)

Ian W

On our most recent US trip (about 1500 miles), I commented to my wife that, as a broad generality, I thought driving standards were higher than back in Britain. [I should add that this was far from my first driving experience in the States].

On reflection, it may simply be that, as the UK is a smaller country with a greater population density, there is less land available to give over to roads. And, as my driving instructor told me after I had passed my driving test [in my school uniform!], "Always remember - 'speed and space' - the higher your speed, the more space you need". Wise words which I've tried to keep in mind. In Britain, too many drive far too close to the vehicle in front.

And, like Peter, I was taught to use the engine (and the gears)to slow your vehicle down.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 09:59:30 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

We drove to Nashville along the Natchez Trace … a road with a 50 mph limit, no trucks allowed, no buildings at the side … beautiful, calm, everyone driving very safely.

Like the UK, traffic deaths have fallen by a very large degree in 30 years … Wiki picked up UK 39%, USA 35%, both impressive … but the US total for 2010 was five million crashes, 32,999 deaths. So, as was pointed out, a large war per year, rather than a small war.

A year or two ago I went on a day’s enforced driver awareness course. In many ways it was hilarious, and I’m trying to write a play about it. But it also changed my driving. My offence was 46 mph in a 40 mph zone at midnight, A brightly lit urban dual carriageway on a clear dry night, and I was the only car in sight in either direction. I was caught by a traffic camera. The choice is £60 and 3 penalty points (12 and you lose your licence) or £100 and a full day’s course but no points. If I’d been doing over 49 mph, I could not have chosen the course.

I was the only one out of twenty who knew the correct distance from the vehicle in front at various speeds while watching a video … everyone else was too close. But Going Back to Nashville (the little known C&W version of Back to Memphis?) and the interstates meeting there … in fact by far the most dangerous roads in the UK are small rural roads, followed by city streets, then dual carriageways with large motorways by far the safest per mile driven. Of course when something does happen on a motorway it’s spectacularly bad.

What’s weird to me is anyone who passed a British driving test in the last 25 years is taught to drive right up to a junction and then brake. I was always taught to use the gears on a manual car. The driver awareness instructor told me I was wrong. We hardly ever get snow in the South of England … “Just wait till it snows,” I muttered.

My dad sold tyres and brake linings. He'd have been delighted at the advice to use the brakes instead of the gears.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 05:09:48 CET 2015 from (32.216.237.90)

Todd

Subject: Music

Thanks Bonk.

In other news, I ended up buying the 2 disc version of Dylan's Bootleg Vol. 12 on sale for about $16.00, and also picked up the 6 disc deluxe version for $110.00. Just couldn't swing the 18 disc set, but I'm very pleased so far with the sets that I did end up with. I like having the 6 disc set with the book for home use, but the two disc version is handy to bring with me in the car where I do a lot of my CD listening. Still also digging the Beatles Mono LP's, and also recently purchased the CD version of the Beatles 1 remixed. My local store didn't have the version with all of the restored videos, but I'll keep an eye out for that as we get closer to the holidays.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 04:45:00 CET 2015 from (24.108.19.210)

BONK

Well said Todd!

Entered at Fri Nov 20 04:07:34 CET 2015 from (32.216.237.90)

Todd

Subject: Leadership & Unity

I don't have the answers, but it's painfully clear that there's been a failure of leadership in the way that the threat of terrorism has been handled. One of our leadership's primary responsibilities is to protect it's citizenry. I think that most people can see that the problem is not "contained".

Unfortunately appeasement and sticking our collective heads in the sand and hoping for the best is naively dangerous and is not a strategy for success.

As I said, I don't have the answers, but I think that the civilized world would be better served by unity, rather than bickering. The enemy wants us divided.....they know that we are stronger when we are unified. I just wish our "leaders" would realize this and set a better example.

Maybe old Rick had it right. We may not be able to save the world, but we can certainly help the neighborhood.

Be nice to each other, spread some goodness, and maybe that will ultimately prevail.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 02:41:24 CET 2015 from (82.22.145.205)

Ian W

The taxi drivers at Bucharest's Gara de Nord are noted for ripping off tourists, so we were prepared. On arrival there, we were told the fare to our hotel (2 miles at most) would be 80 Lei (about £16 at the then exchange rate, say US$25). Maybe not too bad in some major cities but we'd been to Romania before and knew this was outrageous. "Prea mult" ("Too much"), we insisted, as the taxi driver (and his mates) protested that it was a fair price. We called our hotel, got them to arrange a taxi to pick us and take us there. The driver used the meter and the cost, when we added the tip, was 8 Lei(a little over £1.60, around US$2.50).

Entered at Fri Nov 20 02:39:15 CET 2015 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Carmen, Where exactly did I call your beliefs stupid? I made a few comments about Trump and Carson earlier today and you responded by telling me to shut up. My comments were in no way directed towards you.

It's a fair assumption that all of us who read and post comments here are Band fans. But, you've probably noticed that a wide range of topics that are completely unrelated to the music of the Band are discussed here and some of those topics are political.

I doubt the nature of this guestbook is going to change anytime soon, so if the occasional "anarchist rant" is so offensive to you, maybe you should start a facebook group dedicated to the music of the Band in which you can monitor the posts and expel anyone who has a point of view that differs from yours.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 00:52:53 CET 2015 from (68.196.242.58)

Jeff A.

Subject: Just Info. Article on ISIS already in America

I'll grant you that The NY Post is rather reactionary, but. you can read the article for yourselves, make up your own mind about whether you consider it valid.. I personally know naught of the gentleman interviewed . But i can tell you he's a typical NYC guy. How do i know? I loved when he was quoted as saying "...I need a piece of paper that says I’ m Tony Caterpillar....." that made me smile from ear to ear.

Now that guy, he's a natural comedian. NYC gives free comedy lessons.

Entered at Fri Nov 20 00:31:06 CET 2015 from (68.196.242.58)

Jeff A.

BTW Pete, Shut the fuck up. Kevin, Al Edge, J.T., J.Q., Dunc,Bob F.,B.E.G., Ros, Joan,....Shut the fuck up, all of you!

Entered at Thu Nov 19 23:10:31 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Every taxi driver is individual, but on the whole by far the best are London, UK … total professionals, know exactly where they're going. I'd agree in Dublin as the friendliest … also true of most service industries in Ireland. Belfast ditto. Germany is generally good too.

America is generally really, really bad. I'd except Orlando and New Orleans, but mostly appalling. No idea of routes, dangerous driving. Though one of the nicest I ever met was San Francisco … and American, which is rare.

Entered at Thu Nov 19 23:10:02 CET 2015 from (82.22.145.205)

Ian W

Thanks BEG for the response. From your brief description, it sounds as if the Dylan contribution is indeed from the WTTW programme, which I do have somewhere. I haven't viewed it in quite a while but it sounds familiar stuff. Mavis was interviewed for "NO DIRECTION HOME" but I don't recall Dylan speaking about her in any of his interview clips in that.

"NO DIRECTION HOME" included at least one clip from "FOLK SONGS AND MORE FOLK SONGS". It was recorded in March 1963 and I have a copy of the whole programme. Indeed, I was very much involved in getting it out from the Westinghouse TV vaults in the first place - entirely legally, I hasten to add - but it's rather a long tale to tell and, anyway, I'll probably get the story mixed up at this remove.

Entered at Thu Nov 19 22:40:02 CET 2015 from (70.51.83.14)

brown eyed girl

76 is the new 66....56? Do it again Mavis!!!

Entered at Thu Nov 19 22:28:54 CET 2015 from (76.98.218.136)

Carmen

Subject: Ben

Ben- I really don't care what you think. You have no idea what I am about and I don't need to justify myself or my beliefs unlike you. I don't ever hide behind the keyboard.

You see when I want to talk politics I go to the proper sites to do so. I am sure there are many here who have opinions that run the entire spectrum of thought. I don't need you telling me how stupid I am because I have certain beliefs that are different than yours. The one thing we GB'ers have in common is our Love of Music, The Band and related artists. I come here to talk Music, Share music related information and learn from others on the site about Music etc - not to hear you and your anarchist rants.

Entered at Thu Nov 19 22:06:18 CET 2015 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

I think I've ridden in cabs in every major U.S. city, but for me the very best are in Dublin -

Entered at Thu Nov 19 22:05:04 CET 2015 from (70.51.83.14)

brown eyed girl

I saw "Mavis!" yesterday at our Hot Docs Cinema. Oh yeah and The Band are present in TLW with The Staples. Doc review linked.

"We are honored to be able to bring Mavis’s story to the screen. The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March 2015, with more screenings, television broadcasts and home video release to come. (Apparently HBO has picked it up as well.) Follow Film First on Twitter of like the film’s Facebook page for news on the film’s progress and announcements of screenings near you."

For inquiries about the film, please email us at: info[at]filmfirstco.com. For press inquiries please contact RJ Millard at: rj[at]obscuredpictures.com

"Dylan pops up periodically here as a relaxed and forthcoming interviewee, and the equivalent of a supporting player in the Mavis Staples story. Even before he met the family, he recalls on camera, he was profoundly affected by the Staple Singers’ recording of the haunting “Uncloudy Day.” (“That made me stay up for a week, after I heard that song.”) Later, he crossed paths with the Staples during production of a TV special titled (no joke) “Folk Songs and More Folk Songs!” — represented here with an ineffably hilarious clip featuring a boyish Dylan — and he was immediately smitten with Mavis. So smitten, in fact, that Dylan asked Pops for Mavis’ hand in marriage. Mavis recalls that her relationship with the future superstar stopped far short of wedlock. But, she coyly concedes, “We may have smooched.”

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Kevin J

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JQ

PV - I came up in LA at a time when the freeways weren't gridlocked. And I agree wth you about their non-aggressive style. But in those days when you could drive fast and safe those LA drivers were something to watch, nearly ballet-like in the way they would move around, sometimes weaving in unison, etc. And safely. And fastly -

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Peter V

David, I found driving differs far more dramatically in the USA than it does here. I found Louisiana and Mississippi calm and relaxed, then Memphis kind of average, but Nashville on the far extreme end of aggressive. Similarly, I found Phoenix unusually extremely aggressive compared to LA, San Diego or San Francisco. I found New York, Long Island, New Jersey fine too. We just don’t have that degree of variation.

The worst drive I’ve had in years was a taxi back from the Grand Old Opry in Nashville where the driver had a long cell phone conversation with one hand, while elaborately picking his nose with the other, steering with his knees while swerving between lanes at 80 to 85 mph. Is it racist or simply factual to state he was African-African?

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JQ

Ben - He's different from Hitler in regard to the religious vetting he suggests: Trump would be looking exclude the uncircumcised and Hitler did the opposite.

What's Carmen worked up about anyway?

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Ben

Subject: Carmen

Carmen, Your chicken hawk hero, Donald Trump is starting to sound more and more like Hitler. I think he's about to announce a proposal to have Muslim Americans wear armbands.

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Carmen

Subject: Ben

Ben- do me a favor - shut up.

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Ian W

Is "MAVIS!" available on DVD or likely to become available on DVD, do you know? I doubt it will come my way - if, by that, you mean come to a local cinema. Maybe it will be on TV some time.

Some years back, WTTW (the Chicago PBS channel) broadcast a programme about The Staples Singers, for which Bob Dylan gave an interview. Are his contributions to "MAVIS!" taken from that broadcast, I wonder.

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David P

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brown eyed girl

If the docu Mavis! comes your way.....gotta see it! Even Dylan is here a couple of times talking about her and we get to hear the very first song he heard the Staples sing. We also see Mavis having a visit with Levon at his home. At one point she's with Jeff Tweedy and she completely breaks down. He is there to comfort her. Mavis.....Beautiful soul. I am so fortunate to have been touched by her in concerts and one concert with her Pops as well. Yeah.....They took me there.

Since my name keeps popping up......I keep hearing that the "master" mind of the Paris attacks was sadistic. I'm really confused now as I was asked here if I was. I have no problem with someone disagreeing with the choices I make when I post here.....I do lose respect when name calling and condescending remarks are made. In all honesty, I think I've only been given red stars for pen"men"ship in my printing as a child.
Thank you Peter and Kevin J. Thanks also to JT who may have disagreed with my choice of information but at least was respectful in his response. Otherwise, I will continue to post whatever I fffffff feeeeel like. ;-D

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Peter V

BTW, I don’t think it’s useful to compare the number of deaths by driving, or smoking, or alcohol with acts of terrorism. Handguns? Well, that’s relevant because it’s in the same ball park.

It’s also clear that we will talk more about a Western city that many people have visited, and all of us know from movies, than somewhere we’ve never been to and are unlikely to visit. It’s natural … it’s the local paper to insular national paper to internationally minded newspaper progression. Here in my town, one death in a road accident will certainly make the front page. The closer to home, the more it shocks us.

On death from driving … last year Mrs V was terrified of the large road going into Nashville. ‘Don’t worry,’ I said, trying not to take my eyes off the road, ‘It looks bad, but I’m sure it’s perfectly safe.’ At that point we passed an electric sign saying “TN Road Fatalities YtD 490.” It was June. I drove to the hotel and looked it up. Tennessee with a population of 6.5 million had 1014 fatalities in 2013. The figure for Britain, with ten times the population, 65 million, was 1713 for 2013. And that was a 39% drop in ten years. The "let us drive as fast as we like" lobby puts the fall down to improved medical treatment and more highly trained paramedics, but it's not true. The number of crashes fell by the same percentage.

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Bob F.

Kev, if "those guys with a straggly beard and partial to wearing long dresses with bare legs and socks" grew up on Bob Dylan music the world would be a much better place. The same thing would apply to the extreme right wing nuts we have.

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Peter V

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JT

Subject: Music reigns

J.D. Macpherson: Good one; touring. Seattle, Portland and San Francisco early in the new year. Current music again. Good! I love it when someone directs to someone I haven't heard who might be worth hearing.

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JD McPherson

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JT

Subject: Listerine

Listerine: Good mouthwash during a war.

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JQ

I wish our old pal Steve was still around -

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JT

Subject: 37/14,000

37 takes: Only surpassed by the political takes at this GB.

14000 makes Dylan number 1: who are these people buying albums? Under 30s only download. Are these 'hard copies' to be included in the 14,000? I don't know how it works on Billboard now?

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Ben

Subject: Dylan

Kevin, I just saw the billboard article this morning. Good for Dylan, but the startling thing is that 14,000 copies sold in the U.S. can produce a no 1. album.

Back in the 89's and 90's, no. 1 albums were typically selling hundreds of thousands in the first week.

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Kevin J

Bob Dylan's Bootleg Series, Vol. 12: 1965-1966, "The Best of the Cutting Edge" debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums. Only the 4th time in his career that Dylan has had a number 1 album.

Somewhere one of those guys with a straggly beard and partial to wearing long dresses with bare legs and socks that Peter is so startled by is thinking "fuck me, those blue eyed blond haired western nuts that keep telling me I've got things backwards are lining up to buy an album with 37 different takes of the same song!"

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NorthWestCoaster

Thanks Peter for your reminiscenses on Marseilles. Actually, there is a compatriot of mine who is still a hero in Marseilles: Ari Vatanen, the winner of Paris Dakar Rallye and also a former conservative European Parliament Member. - But don't worry. You don't need to walk from the station to Vieux Port anymore. They sell only rotten fish there nowadays. What a shame! COACH SD should clean the place instead of this place IMHO.

I should have seen this coming for thirty years ago. But I didn't. I took part in a project in the University of Gothenburg back then and wanted to give a lift to a beautiful Libanese female scientist. "No" she said, "I can't sit in a car with a man". I should have used Listerine I thought. Then I sat by an East-African female colleague. No-one sat there and I felt sorry about here. Someone said "you must marry her now or her brothers will kill you". I took this as a racist joke. I don't know, I didn't marry her and I am still alive.

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Kevin J

Equating refugees with terrorists "NOT EVEN 3 YEAR OLD ORPHANS" Chris Christie screams to wild cheers from everyone in his party and these type of sickening sentiments makes me much more fearful for the next generation than these recent events in Paris do.

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Ben

I think that the media coverage of the attack in Paris has become excessive at this point. This certainly is a major story, but the coverage on all of the cable news channels has been 24/7 for 5 1/2 days now. (The bombing in Beirut a few weeks ago received a small fraction of the coverage of the Paris attacks.)

An unfortunate byproduct of the attack is that many politicians in the U.S. including most of the Republican Presidential candidates are using the attack to incite fear of Syrian refugees. I don't know who is worse, a chicken hawk like Trump whose solution is to bomb the shit out of ISIS or Carson who is completely ignorant on all issues not related to the bible.

Dealing with ISIS and the others issues in the mid east is quite complex. I certainly don't claim to have the answer, but I think the heightened level of hysteria that has been fanned by the non-stop media coverage and predominantly right wing politicians is unhealthy and potentially dangerous. I wouldn't be surprised if a wave of hate crimes and attacks of Muslims is about to occur here in the U.S.

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Mike Nomad

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Peter V

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Peter V

The trouble is that the Wahabi Saudi tribal version of the religion is intent on conversion and spreading. Think back. Twenty years ago the percentage of Muslims in our societies wasn’t vastly different but you never saw hijabs or burqas, or straggly beards or men in long dresses with bare legs and socks and shoes … it’s the leather shoes and black socks that look weird. It was because this sort of garb was Arabian peninsula or the North-West Frontier, i.e, the Pakistani-Afghani border area. Apart from a light headscarf sometimes, most Muslims wanted to be part of whichever society they were in and saw no need for markers, as of course the vast majority still do. I taught many Muslims right through the 70s and then did teacher-training right through the 80s and 90s and I never saw this gear. I spoke in Turkey and apart from two or three people in an audience of several hundred women teachers, you never saw all black … and those few didn’t have their faces covered. As far as clothes went, it looked much the same as Italy or Greece. And in most of Europe you’d have 2 or 3 Catholic nuns in a large audience.

But the ISIS aim is to convert and spread. USA is just over 2% Muslim. Britain is around 4.8% Muslim. France is 10.3%. ISIS are not just going to ignore us if we ignore them.

Back to my other point, the real issue is the absence of women from power, and with immigration, the high percentage of young males travelling without women or children.

Twenty years ago in Marseilles, I walked from the station to the harbour one evening and there were literally thousands of lone males crowding the streets. Just standing around, chain smoking. It’s not a healthy or balanced society and it’s a powder keg. Last week yet another Pakistani doctor in Britain was “struck off” the medical register for aborting female foetuses. The whole basis is fundamentally wrong.

I’ve written books for teaching Arabs to read the Roman alphabet. I’ve done a lot of teacher training with specialist teachers, most of them Muslim. As they say, they just can’t get to the women. The men want them at home and don’t want them to learn English … and watch TV and get new ideas.

Entered at Wed Nov 18 21:11:58 CET 2015 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Bill M - I think you're right about getting more demos into the military. That's one thing the draft used to help with. I can't help thinking if we had a draft in 2003, some of those that were so enthusiastic about invading Iraq might have paused a bit if it was their kids that had to go. Not saying there weren't any rich and brave kids signing up, but historically it's been the poorer folks that go.

On the terrorist attack in France: I think it could be a mistake to put the emphasis for the whole thing on ISIS or that crushing ISIS would stop this type of terror. Consider the essential elements of a terrorist: motive, resourcefulness and 0 fear of death. Finances and the support of an umbrella group are likely lower down on that list. If the world decides that crushing ISIS is needed, that will be a strictly offensive event. Whereas stopping terrorism at home is defensive. And each nation will have to decide how much freedom they're willing to forego in the name of safety.

On motive, it's been said that their hatred for how we live is their primary driver. After 9/11 I recall Rudy G acting appalled when Ron Paul suggested the driver was, what was perceived as, our predatory presence in the Middle East. Consider a couple nations that live as infidels but are not attacked: China with its state aetheism and Brazil with its very sexy Carnival, gay parades, etc. But neither would be seen as active in that part of the world.

These are just unoriginal thoughts, but I think they can be indicators of how complicated this situation has become. And then a reality check with regard to the unintended consequences of whatever path the world chooses -

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Ben

There's a radio broadcast of a 1993 Band concert being released next week in the UK. Hopefully the sound quality will be acceptable. I haven't heard this particular show, but have heard many other shows form this period and they were generally quite good.

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Bill M

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Jeff A.

Subject: "You're a funny guy." "Been that way for all my time"

So Mike, i was in Gowanus this morning. I'm often there a couple of mornings a week Maybe three times a year I buy this organic Earthworm Mold & Mildew spray treatment that is great for tiled areas in the shower. i get it in Whole Foods. So today i select a veagn pistachio & cranberry scone, & the Earthworm Treatment, and take it up to the cashier. The gals there are always alot of fun, this gal and i are kibbitzing and she says 8 somehting. s i smile, and say, something tells me your register needs a vaction. She looks quizzical, i said, how much was The earthworm? She saus 5.99. i said ahah, it's 4.99. Some one went to look, said that indeed it was 4.99, an d the gal says to me two bucks. I said how's that? It should be 7 & change. She said that when they ring up the wrong price, store policy is that the item's free. Since I'm 4.99 plus sales tax ahead already today, I'm gonna share s few of my two cents with all of you. Not all of it mind you, cause I'm saving most of that.

With regards to the heated GB exchanges of a couple of days ago, I couldn't help but notice that Pete set the stage lighting for Norm to take the opportunity to calm down ( & maybe sober up) and sell that he was just being funny. Well, then, as long as that gets accepted, then I have always thought Norm was a very funny guy. Just a recent example, I'm certain Norm was just being funny a week ago, with PSB, BEG, etc etc.

Now, " I wanna know": Why does Norm get to have all the fun? What the fuck Norm? Ain't the rest of us funny too?

I think, don't the rest of you think that as long as everyone is laughing, we should all get to tell Kevin "Shut the fuck up!" ? Better yet, let's start with Norm..
Norm, shut the fuck up! Ha Ha!
Who wants to go next?
Kevin? Mike? Peter Stone Brown? B.E.G.? Bonk? Coach? Norm Clancy?
Really, long as everyone's laughing, step on up.... everyone can tell Norm to Shut the fuck up., then next, it's time to tell it to Kevin.

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Al Edge

Subject: Utter Garbage

Sorry to hijack your positivity Jerry lad but...

Last Friday I posted a you tube link to a song by an act called Major Lazer.

It's evidently I regret bitterly to say the most downloaded song ever.

As of last Friday it had registered 266 million hits on You Tube.

Less than a week later that total now stands at 790 million hits.

That's over 500 million hits in 5 days. I repeat FIVE HUNDRED MILLION HITS in FIVE days.

Now maths ain't my strongest point but I make that almost half as many as Norm's recent spate of posts on here!!!

:-0)

Seriously folks - what the fuck is going on?

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JT

Subject: B&RK barks

Back to music, folks: On Friday Nov. 20 evening: Tom Wilson (Lee Harvey Osmond) plays Upstairs Cabaret in Victoria BC: Stephen Fearing plays in Kelowna, BC: Colin Linden introduces a new album at a prominent cafe in Nashville, Tenn. And a new album is planned by B&RK in 2016. With all this negativity, this is some positive news and the future looks bright... I gotta wear shades.

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Ben

Jeff, "Schlub from New Jersey", that's a great phrase and would make a nice title for a book. I'm scratching my head over your comments. I don't understand why you have such a hard time accepting the fact that someone disagrees with you. I'm a longtime fan of the Band, just like everyone else here. I don't really know what you're trying to insinuate and I don't particularly like it.

The reality is that a wide range of topics related to members of the Band and their relationships and interactions with other musicians have been discussed here over the years. So, I don't understand why my comment about Levon and Louie is anything out of the ordinary or off limits.

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Jeff A.

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Ben

Jeff, I don't know what anyone else reading this thinks. I wouldn't characterize the comments you've directed towards me during the past few days or prior to that as "polite". I would describe many of them as insulting and condescending. To put it simply, you seem to have a problem accepting the fact the someone disagrees with you.

Regarding the Levon/Louie issue, well I don't know where to begin. Do you really expect Louie to come out and tell the interviewer that Levon had cut ties with him? Frankly, Prof. Louie is not exactly a house hold name. His minor claim to fame is his previous association with the Band. He's probably gonna give these type of interviews for the rest of his career in which he discusses his years with The Band.

The fact of the matter is that during the ramble years Levon performed with all of the other members of the Band on occasion: Garth, Jim Weider, Randy Ciarlante and many other Woodtsock area musicians who he maintained relationships with such as John Sebastian, Artie Traum and Donald Fagen. One Woodstock area musician who previously worked closely with Levon, who never performed at a ramble is Louie.

Woodstock isn't exactly a metropolis. We're not talking about New York or Nashville, L.A. or London. The Woodstock music is relatively small, so I find it very difficult to believe that Louie went from being very close friends with Levon in the mid 90's to not seeing him for the last 12 or 13 years of Levon's life (while living in the same community) without their being some rupture in the relationship.

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Peter V

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Rosalind

I have just begin reading this tiny little book written by Nick Tosches and listening to the news at the same time.. made me realized that it's just what has happened here so late in the game. We've Saved the last dance for satan. BopBopaLuBopBaLopbamBoom

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Jeff A.

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Mike Nomad

Some intelligent and heartfelt assessments here now and during the past few days relating to the Paris massacre. Some emotional viewpoints and some heated exchanges generated, all understood, but in the end a deeper bonding among us all, perhaps. I especially enjoyed Dunc's and Al Edge's contributions to this forum. Yes, more like a pub crowd. Good analogy. And Kevin's humor and restraint, and Norm's contemplative side. Who knew?

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Rockin Chair

Subject: The Last Band Song - Rick Danko - Book Faded Brown

After all the emotions of the uncertainty of the future, and for our grand children who follow us, I'm ending the day. Listening to this song and watching the pictures of a life time. Even through all my mistakes and some damn hard times.....maybe a little too often. It's still been a great life. Watch the pictures of a life time that has gone by.

I don't think any one of us could help but feel these 5 guys helped us through it. You could always turn to music to help you get thru' and some times take your mind of things that just got too gawd damn hard. I'll be forever grateful. It's been a great part of our lives. Lets let it all go for a while and listen to this and enjoy the pictures...........if only we could get others to do it. I hope "Playing For Change" can help.......even a little bit to those who know only hatred and never listen to music.

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Coach HD

Gots him some of them internet muscles I guess.

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Kevin J

Bob F: Great to see you back. I've got about 3 weeks of shows stacked up but look forward to watching Fargo down the road. Thank you.

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Ben

Subject: Terrorist attacks

The recent terrorist attacks are bringing out the worst in many of politicians in the U.S. From the growing list of governors who say they won't take Syrian refugees to many of the candidates for President.

The worst offender is Ben Carson who is completely out of his element and utterly clueless. I am hoping for the announcement that the Carson campaign has been a hoax.

An article just came out today in which his advisors admit that he is completely confused by foreign policy. The thought of a Carson Presidency is truly frightening.

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Ben

Jeff, You must have read a different article because the one I linked to doesn't support your thesis at all. I got a very strong feeling from the article that Louie was persona non grata to Levon for many years. Hopefully, the Hoskyns book will shed some light on this.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Beslan School & The Charge of the Light Brigade

I remember that well Peter, however that is part of the point. Another war monger which I believe Putin to be finding and creating an excuse to wage war and kill all the innocent because of a terrorist group.

I expect he does have a long memory. The Crimean war so long ago was another downfall for Russia and Putin has made it very clear he has no interest what so ever in a democratic country. That war all that time ago was another war flavoured with religion.

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Dunc

Subject: Sadavid

My apologies Sadavid. I think Russian but wrote Soviet in error.

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sadavid

Dunc: good points, but the sabotaged aircraft should be described as "Russian." The airline began operations in '93, two years after the USSR dissolved.

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JQ

I agree with you Peter that shutting off oil is highly unlikely. It's the basis of those economies; without oil and its revenue they've only got sand to sell -

Entered at Tue Nov 17 22:10:09 CET 2015 from (31.53.23.70)

Dunc

Subject: Role of Saudi Arabia

Peter's post picks up on which I missed in my post - the role of Saudi Arabia in the spread of Isis. Saudi Arabia is playing an important role in supporting the anti Shia jihad in Iraq and Syria. Shia Muslims are being eradicated in areas taken over by Isis. In some areas, being Shia is akin to being a Jew in Nazi Germany. There is not enough coverage of the role of Saudi Araba in the British press. Isis is supported by rich individuals in Saudi and Quatar.

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Peter V

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Peter V

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Jeff A.

There's plenty more, that i won't write here. But I've made my points. And people who can read, & follow posts & threads, and follow trains of thought logically, well, I'd think they'd agree with what I presented from the beginning, in context re friendship & business... If people don't, i don't give a rat's ass.

There is much more to a friendship than recording, than contracts, than appearances, constancy, or frequency. Friendships don't die so easy, and have value, may have more or less of a flow, but only death can end the possibility of a variance in physical or phone contact. And the fact is that constancy & intensity & nature of interaction can & do change like the wind...But there's emotion, caring, & history, that without some serious conflict do not go away. Sometimes some people try not to remember history, cause it's easier..Sometimes that gets in their way too. There's also the reality of people & their natures, but that still cannot easily or completely deny or interfere with feelings & friendship....Cutting or severing ties as you have indicated you decided happened , is damn definite. The fact that you don't or don't admit to reading words, not even the meaning of what you wrote, accurately, & your failure to follow logical writing, weighs in to your presented or actual failure to understand logical, precise words.

I am a moron. There's no doubt about it. There's a reason that the great majority of other people with actual friendships & knowledge in this realm don't post here. And that only a few others do occasionally. I am a moron for continuing to.

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Bill M

Peter V / David P: I appreciate the Tallahachie bridge posts and I wish I could recall why (or what) I posted about BJ McAllister a few weeks ago. It was certainly nothing about Emmitt Till, a sad topic that opens up additional lines of thinking regarding what Ode was really about.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Vladimir Putin

The worst of two (or more) evils Peter. I don't know. If you have had any access to watching this documentary on Putin, he is probably worse than all of them. He had his people plant bombs in those apartment buildings in Moscow. Blow up his own people while they were sleeping. Then blame it on Chechnians so he could wage war on them and kill them at will. That is genocide.

In this documentary the richest man in Russia, (I can't remember his name). In their parliament he challenged Putin to be more transparent over the 32 billion dollars that was money of vice and corruption. He was jailed for ten years and his oil empire was dismantled and divided amoung the men loyal to Putin. In the size of that country he is more feared than Hussein or any of the others you describe.

What he gets away with and in particular in the Ukraine, when Hussein invaded Kuwate all countries were quick to wage war on him. Putin gets away with it. A commercial airliner that gets shot down by rebels with guns he supplied and nothing is done. I believe Obama is scared of him.

Entered at Tue Nov 17 21:48:27 CET 2015 from (100.2.21.114)

Joan

Thank you Dunc you put is very succinctly. This is a terrible time in our world. These terrible events bring back the awfulness that I felt after 9/11. That was my city. I don't know how were going to cope with this I hope they find some ways. One of our pundits Chris Matthews has proposed that the heathy male refugees should be used the fight Isis in Syria. There's some logic to that. They should we be willing to defend their country backed by a responsible group of international soldiers. Let music bring us peace and harmony.

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Jeff A.

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Peter V

We need to read “The Naked & The Dead” by Norman Mailer, set in the Pacific campaign in WW2. The basic thesis is that when confronting total evil, you need a total bastard on your side … a role performed by (e.g.) Patton and Churchill.

In 1941 we had to sit down and talk to Stalin. At this point, we have to sit down and talk to Vladimir Putin and to China. Putin is that necessary bastard. What Putin said on Saturday, was that the root problem was the “paymasters.” He’s correct. We knew the nationality of the 9/11 terrorists, nearly all Saudi, but we went after everybody except the source. Because of course two American presidents named Bush were in extremely tight business relationships with the Saudis. Read Michael Moore. That same source is spreading a tribal medieval and barbaric perversion of what was an otherwise tolerant religion across the world, and they are funding these extreme views. As is “World Cup” Qatar. Muslim friends tell me that Saudi money is pouring into the West to promote their extreme religious views. It’s just as if (say) the USA or the EU decided that the worst excesses of the Spanish Inquisition (or the Salem witch trials) was the only correct type of Christianity and decided to push it onto the world.

I would add that moderate normal Muslims really need to stand up and be counted right now … not in a few hundred in Trafalgar Square last weekend, but in hundreds of thousands.

§ Putin is also probably right that Assad, like Saddam and Gaddafi, might unfortunately be the best prospect, at least in the short term. The Saudis hated these three … Saddam, Gaddafi, Assad … because all three were secular. I notice that whenever an Assad representative speaks on TV, it’s a woman, with no headscarf, who speaks English perfectly. He has about 40% support. OK, he’s a bastard too, but have you looked at the alternatives?

The paymasters money is in the West. A lot is locked in ownership of companies and hotels. That’s the way to cut the head off the snake. BUT and it’s a very big “but” is that if you removed those princes, the extreme religious crew would sweep into their place and be far worse. What’s needed is to use enough persuasion to stop the flow of money and support. We apparently have great intelligence. We should be able to trace individuals paying. Then confiscate all their assets in the West. I believe money laundering legislation already on the statute books can do it.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Lady Tibba Gamble

From my friendship with Alexis Suter on Face Book, I have had brought to my Page, Lady Tibba Gamble.

On youtube you can find her singing with her daughter Coco, their cover of Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven". They sing like angels.

Entered at Tue Nov 17 19:05:26 CET 2015 from (31.53.23.70)

Dunc

Subject: Thanks

Thought I'd thank you all. I really enjoy the Gb or else I wouldn't come. I see us, as Kevin alluded, as a pub community. What unites us is 'The Band' and then we discuss other things and sometimes discussions can get heated. But we must remain civil towards each other.

Thanks again.

Entered at Tue Nov 17 18:48:34 CET 2015 from (31.53.23.70)

Dunc

Subject: Politics

The attack on Parisians was a heinous act. We are concert goers here. The attacks, including the attack at the concert, was an attack on our way of life. We enjoy life whereas they follow a twisted religious ideology which celebrates death. Do you think the debates on this GB would be tolerated under Isis?

If some of the favourite acts discussed on this GB had been playing, and we were in Paris, we would have been at the concert. Two Scots girls described a terrifying ordeal at the concert, hiding in a cellar for three hours thinking they were going to die.

The discovery of two mass graves outside Sinjar a town that was ruled by Isis for a year is not a surprise. 78 elderly women's bodies were found in the first grave, while between 50 and 60 bodies of men, women and children were found in the second grave. Thousands of members of the Yashdi community have been killed and captured with women being forced into sexual slavery. This is a genocide.

The destruction of the Soviet aircraft is another brutal, unforgivable act.

David Cameron announced that several planned attacks on Britain have been averted this year by our security forces.

The first refugees arrive in Glasgow about now. I hope they are given support. If us Scots don't support the refugees from the camps, then Isis wanting to spread terror will have achieved success. The Muslim community in Scotland contributes to Scottish life.

However we must challenge and act on anything in our society which challenges our way of life - online sites trying to radicalise young Muslims for example or anybody who spreads hatred. When a professional footballer makes an anti semitic sign, this should be acted on.

And Isis is a fascist organisation. We must learn the lesson from World War 2 and destroy it. The Nazis should have been destroyed when they began to gather support. As you know, I'm not a conservative, but I support Cameron in his call for air strikes. But there must be discussion with other countries including Russia. And China?

The situation in Syria is difficult as we know. The Independent described how some moderate resistant groups have now become extreme. And we have all read recently about how some US supported resistance groups sold the weaponry they had been supplied with.

I wanted to respond to some of the posts here, but I feel a GB is not the ideal place for this discussion because I, like everybody else here probably, feel I could write a lot more.

But this is a relevant discussion on this GB. It is many music fans and lovers of life who have been murdered in Paris. Je suis Paris.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Longmire

Thanks Bob. Susan suggested Longmire to me too. I've been meaning to watch it. Next time down island to the big towns I'm going to get some DVD's.

My problem is going out on trips on the tug. I miss a lot of stuff. When I can get into my family room down stairs and put these DVD's in a lay back I really enjoy it. The weather right now makes for a lot of harbour days where I really enjoy being at home with Susan, the fire, and the DVD's.

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Bob F.

Norm, I did. It was excellent! I'm looking forward to the conclusion. If you haven't watched Longmire, check it out. A modern day sheriff but with the feel of a great western. I think you'd really like the show and there is about 6 seasons on DVD.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Hell on Wheels - Into the Badlands

Bob! did you watch Hell on Wheels this season? It appears they split the season in to half summer 2015 and half summer 2016. I didn't bother watching it. I'm waiting for the DVD so I can watch it through.....if I'm still around.

The new series Into the Bad Lands started Sunday night, last. Looks like it may be good. A lot of martial arts special effects. Has won a lot of awards in China apparently.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Jam Band.com

Ben thanks for the link. That was a great read, from a humble fellow. The Ophelia vid was great and gave me a feeling of some Dixieland.

Your recent conversation is the usual and your learning.........Thanks again.

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Bob F.

Kevin, check out the first season of Fargo, recently released on DVD. Wonderful FX show with terrific characters.

Entered at Tue Nov 17 15:28:48 CET 2015 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Jeff A, You really are an obnoxious asshole. The initial comment I made yesterday was not directed towards you. Once again, let me repeat it for the umpteenth time so you may understand, it was in reference to the upcoming Hoskyns book about Woodstock.

I don't see anything moronic about it. Obviously, you seem to think that you have some great insight and inside information about Levon because you hired him to work on a session for you once. Well, mazel tov.

I did a google search on Professor Louie and found the attached interview with Louie from 2012. Please read this, it seems pretty clear from this that Louie wanted to keep working with Levon after Rick's death and the end of the Band, but Levon chose not to.

As far as I know Louie has remained in the Woodstock area and it seems from this interview that he was never asked to participate in any of the rambles at Levon's barn. So, it seems pretty obvious from this that Levon cut ties with Louie.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: She's back!

Rosalind! I thought you had run off with some teen age boy and was living in a hippy commune in South America??

Entered at Tue Nov 17 10:45:50 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I also fear for the world my grandkids will live in. These people ban music altogether. Any music. Any dance.

I think we all know that bombing Iraq and Libya was entirely negative. We should have realized that while they were vicious dictators, both Saddam and Gaddafi were better than the alternative that resulted. Gaddafi was raving on TV News as it all collapsed with a translator. He said ‘If you get rid of me, in a year women will be in burquas, banned from schools, afraid to walk the streets, the tribes will be killing each other and I’m all that’s stopping millions of Africans from flooding through Libya into Europe.” Not really that mad, then. Libya had the highest percentage of women in higher education in the region.

The refugee problem is exacerbated by the male: female ratio. Around 75% of Syrian refugees are adult males. By the time they get to Calais, where Somalis, and Afghanis dominate, 90% are adult males. Truck drivers are leaving their jobs because of the threat of violence at Calais. If you follow Merkl’s path, let the first to get there through, you are admitting mainly the most aggressive males, and you’re going to have weird demographics in future. Which is why British policy is to take families, widowed women and orphans direct from the refugee camps (to which the UK is the single largest contributor), rather than those who are forcing their way through. And no, we’re taking nowhere near enough of them, but the focus on Syrian refugee families, women and children is right. Today’s paper says that of the 213,000 immigrants arriving in Europe this summer, only 44,000 were Syrian. Apparently 17,700 Albanians … a European country at peace … have joined the march to Germany.

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Jeff A.

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Rosalind

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Rockin Chair

Subject: In Perspective

Is any of this really in perspective? First of all, this site is dedicated to the music of the BAND which we all have admired for a life time.

Unfortunately, too often current events cause the topics to get shifted to things that, really a lot of us would be much happier to not have to discuss.

The sentiments of Kevin's feelings about bombs dropping and the cruel unwanted destruction of humanity becomes unbearable. We are a peaceful country with love for our fellow man. However, you get put with your back against the wall. You are no longer a spectator or an observer. You are put into a situation where you have to make HARD, real life decisions. How many people who voice their opinion and vent have ever been in that situation? Your opinion certainly does count and you have your right to it.....but have you ever been in that situation....where a population of humanity depend on you.

I know I haven't, and I never want to be. We, in our world never want to hurt any one. This is not a eutopia....if only. My grandfather, (who died when my mom was only 14) from complications from WW1. He was at Vimy Ridge and managed to make it home, but only lasted 'till he was 44.

Any of you who know or understand history must know what France does to honour the Canadian Forces Infantrymen who took that gawd damn ridge. So when you put down the act of "DEFENCE". First of all understand what the sacrifices are to save entire countries as well as refugees. I never got to see my grandfather or sit on his knee but I sure in hell know what he did. Maybe some of you are not aware of the excavation that is going on up on that ridge and the poor souls they are still bringing up out of those tunnels after all this time.

None of us want to see any war or destruction, but get real. It is stuck in our faces by war mongers who have to be stopped. DEAL WITH IT!

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Jeff A.

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Jeff A.

Entered at Tue Nov 17 04:28:10 CET 2015 from (24.114.54.192)

Kevin J

Bonk........I really don't know. Turning back the clock and correcting Iraq would help but that's fantasy, of course. Like JQ, I just know in my gut we are playing into the hands of the nuts when refugees are equated with terrorists and occupying/bombing is led by the same crowd that cheered so lustily when the Iraq strategy was employed.........great post, by the way. A lot of us have known each other for a long time here. Most of the time, it's a great saloon type community.

Entered at Tue Nov 17 03:59:04 CET 2015 from (24.114.54.192)

Kevin J

I stopped tonight and picked up some DVD's - George Gently season 7 and the final two seasons of Sons of Anarchy.....No more news for at least a few weeks ! May stop by JT's Dad's old place and look around for new guitar as well this week......been a while.......Thank you, Al - for finding the right words as always.......let's all pray/hope that the madness that follows from all sides over the next few years ends up hurting as few people as is possible.

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BONK

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Carmen

Subject: The River

For Bruce fans. Enjoy

Entered at Tue Nov 17 02:02:37 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Second thougts

On second thought Kevin, that was a little harsh, I apologize. We were joking at first, (I hope). As I had said before I hope young Mr. Tredeau does well he deserves the chance. I respect your concern for your family in France. That is no laughing matter.

JQ go take some valium or Scotch.........or what ever makes you go to sleep.........I think I'll drive all the way down there and pour a bottle of Crown Royal down your throat............gawd damn it!

Entered at Tue Nov 17 01:53:56 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Misread & Re - read

Try in your feeble old mind Kevin to remember a few of your posts, like a ways back you called me a "crazy old fucker". Later on after the election you very pompously said now the "government is back where it should be." So don't whine and snivel about a comment I made to you. You should take it in the same way I took your "crazy old fucker" remark. It was meant with the same intent. You got the government you want, so you should be comfortable in the knowledge they will turn things around and this will all be taken care of to your satisfaction. The F 18's are coming home along with every one else and we will be handing out blankets and water and teaching the boys who live there how to scratch every ones eyes out.

You there JQ! go back to your needle point and do something useful. Your running off at the mouth is a total waste of time. You sure aren't doing anything useful.

Entered at Tue Nov 17 01:43:30 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.78)

Jeff A.

Ben, Make no mistake about this. I don't think that you're a moron. I'm not writing that you are a moron. But, if I'm right that you aren't, then I'm certain that you are doing one of the best jobs anyone ever has of impersonating a moron in this GB. Once again. You seem to relish doing this. Why, i don't know. But there is a pattern you present.

If anyone has a problem with my comment, just go back and read the thread from the beginning. Slowly, please. Mind you, i did type please.

Entered at Tue Nov 17 01:41:22 CET 2015 from (97.127.30.101)

Rhythm Jimmy

"Everyone agrees . . ."

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Peter V

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Peter V

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Al Edge

Reflecting further, possibly the most unpalatable thing of all is the realisation about where this has all stemmed from. The fact that inherent within elements of the very same mankind of which we must remember we are all a part is an evil which begets such violence and carnage and which in turn begets further violence and carnage. The majority of us who recoil at the horror must accept with sad hearts that we are and shall be forever cursed with that awful reality. For all the genuine and understandable hopes of so many of us for a better place, the intrinsic propensity for such evil and violence is a stain upon mankind that can never be erased.

If I’ve only ever gotten to absorb only one reality in life it’s that original sin was certainly no Catholic primary school fairy tale.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 22:09:14 CET 2015 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

So the backstory for the song might be that below the bridge flow the muddy, blood-stained waters where dark secrets once submerged & hidden may one day surface downstream.

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David P

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Kevin J

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JQ

You're sorta right PV - I apologize to sinking to the sort of lingo Wescoaster seems to favor. Over here, and it's not the whole country, there's a current blood-lust being expressed by our right wing - just the same as there was in 2003 when we fell into that Iraq caper -

Entered at Mon Nov 16 20:29:44 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

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Peter V

I didn't know the Emmett Till connection, David … was Bobbie Gentry referencing that? I wonder.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 20:22:42 CET 2015 from (68.116.44.170)

JQ

So Westcoaster, what are you going to do? Maybe fly over to Turkey and help with the border refugees - as long as they're Christians? Or volunteer to pay double taxes to support a military venture? Or just sit on your fucking dead ass and moan like a hypocritical cunt? As you said, to stifle debate, "just shut the fuck up"

Entered at Mon Nov 16 19:37:14 CET 2015 from (76.71.4.249)

Kevin J

LINKED: A great article on Albert Grossman published just after his death......appearances by Garth and a wonderful bit with Rick Danko that says so much about Rick's personality and positive outlook on life.

This article is just a taste of the scene that surrounded Albert Grossman...I am very much looking forward to reading the Hoskyns book. Just wish it was being published before Christmas.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 19:28:10 CET 2015 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

From a historical perspective, the Tallahatchie Bridge was in Money, Mississippi, where 14-year old Emmett Till was brutally murdered in August 1955. After he was tortured & killed, his racist assailants took his body, drove across the Tallachatchie Bridge and dumped his body from the bank into the river weighted down by a 70-pound cotton gin fan tied around his neck by barbed wire. He was found downstream several days later.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 18:39:30 CET 2015 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Jeff, So are you suggesting that I misinterpreted your snarky comments? I think my reading comprehension is fine, thanks for the concern.

I don't see anything flippant about my comment. My comment was in reference to the forthcoming Barney Hoskyns book about Woodstock.

I make no claims of having any inside information about what went on at Woodstock records or the relationship between Levon and Louie.

As I understand it, Levon and Louie didn't work on any recording projects after 'Times Like These'. Do I have this wrong? Louie is not on any of the Midnight Ramble releases, Dirt Farmer or Electric Dirt. Those are the facts.

If you have some knowledge of some unreleased project that they worked on together, I'd be very curious to read about it.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 17:56:29 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.78)

Jeff A.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 17:32:55 CET 2015 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Jeff, I stand by my comment. Levon and Louie worked on a number of projects from The Band's 'Jericho' to Rick's 'Times Like These' which was completed shortly after Rick's death. I am not aware of any other projects after that, so my comment about them cutting ties seems to be a reasonable assumption.

I'm scratching my head over your comment about my claim to being an educator. I've never made a comment to that effect.

I don't see any reason to resort to personal comments here. I was simply making an observational comment about Levon's relationship with Professor Louie.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 17:04:43 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.78)

Jeff A.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 16:48:22 CET 2015 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Subject: Levon and Prof Louie

Jeff, I don't think there's anything inaccurate in my post. I don't pretend to have the inside information about what happened. That's why I brought this up in regards to Hoskyn's forthcoming book.

During the 1990's Professor Louie worked closely with The Band on their studio albums and with Rick. Levon briefly played with the Cromatix and one CD was released on Woodstock records. It seems that after Rick's death, the working association between Louie and Levon declined.

I am not aware of any projects that the two of them worked on after Rick's death. If you have some knowledge of any, I'd love to hear about it.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 16:42:08 CET 2015 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

U2, on their Innocence + Experience Tour, were rehearsing in Paris Friday night, preparing for a HBO broadcast of their concert scheduled for Saturday night. As were other activities, the concert was cancelled. In light of the senseless tragedy of hundreds of deaths and wounded, with most occuring at another music event, the U2 cancellation is of little importance. Recalling the words of William Butler Yeats, "mere anarchy is loosed upon the world." The question of how we deal with the "rough beasts" slouching towards our civilized societies with "gazes blank and pitiless" is a troubling nightmare.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 16:31:03 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.78)

Jeff A.

In late Dec 2001 & early 2002 when I was looking to record School For Fools I was having drummer problems in St Louis. Neither of two excellent blues drummers there could make it to one rehearsal, & they both had enough problems & attitude that I wasn't going in without one rehearsal. The drummers that could make a rehearsal, well, i didn't dig their playing..There was one of the all time greatest blues drummers right there too, Kenny Rice, but after 40 years of friendship he had burned part of the bridge with JJ, & I wasn't calling him out of respect for JJ. Plus, though Rice didn't need no rehearsal ever, he coulda been a studio time bomb. So one night i went to sleep thinking I better get Sam Lay's phone #. You want musicians who don't need a rehearsal, don't need to know the material.So I'm thinking to find Sam Lay, only 5 hours away.... Next morning I'm on the throne, the light bulb went off. I called Aaron, told him i was about to record in St Louis & needed Levon. He said I'll call you right back. 5 minutes might have gone by. Aaron called, said here's Levon's #, he's expecting your call now. One ring.... Ties were not severed. Changes took place, but that was not ever unusual. Changes got unchanged too, & other changes followed & some of them changed too. You needed a scorecard.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 15:57:21 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Bobbie Gentry

The Toppermost on Bobbie Gentry is now up. There's a lot more than just Ode to Billie Joe. Pleased add comments over there (or here).

Entered at Mon Nov 16 14:58:47 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Van hates any biographical stuff, but otherwise. It's going to beat Robbie's autobiography to the bookstores, just as "Across The Divide" was published well before "This Wheel's On Fire." The gap here is a lot narrower but Robbie, I assume, will have a lot more to say about the more than 40 years since he left the area.

I don't know Da Capo Press, the publisher. Across The Great Divide was Allen Lane / Penguin, and they'd definitely have had a final manuscript a full year before publication … inexplicably we might think, but for big traditional publishers that's between normal and quick.

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Ben

Subject: Barney Hoskyns

I am looking forward to this new Barney Hoskyns book. I found 'Across the Great Divide' to be a very good book, which I often return to. Hoskyns is a much better writer than Stephen Davis in my opinion.

I hope that Hoskyns interviewed Prof. Louie and the other members of the Cromatix as well as Jim Weider and Randy Ciarlante. I would like some coverage of Woodstock Records, which Levon and Rick were heavily involved with for a few years, but after Rick's death Levon seems to have cut his ties with Prof. Louie and the label. I've often wondered what went down.

The Levon and The Cromatix cd, 'Souvenir, Vol. 1' is a favorite of mine. I would love to see a follow up cd released at some point.

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Peter V

As I said earlier, I hope the book comes up to date: The Felice Brothers, Simone Felice, Simi Stone, Amy Helm, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams.

The Van Morrison, Band, Dylan stuff is pretty well covered by now. Simi Stone mentioned growing up in Woodstock last week. Natalie Merchant is in the area too.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 13:35:58 CET 2015 from (84.215.171.237)

jh

Peter, I am looking forward to the book. Should be very interesting for those of us who have been lucky enough to get a few glimpses inside that world over the last couple of decades. And, of course, the flak will be plentiful.

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Carmen

Subject: Peter V

Peter - that's the problem - instead of shutting down Play Station systems - why not just shut down ISIS. Do you for a moment think these people that want to kill anyone who does not think their way wont find another way to communicate.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 12:41:29 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Fascinating … I mentioned the foul Playstation game “Call of Duty.” Guess what Paris police found in the killers’ apartments? Apparently you can send encrypted messages to other game players. There are 25 million of these machines. Perhaps Sony should shut down the websites which work with it? Or rather be made to shut down the websites.

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Peter V

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jh

Subject: New book from Hoskyns

This one should be a hit in certain circles: A British know-it-all with an "insider's" view on the Woodstock music scene :-)

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Rosalind

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Waging War

What you quoted in answer to your first post regarding this upset, I was trying to be polite and in a somewhat lighter tone. YOU! had to carry this on Kevin. You are not accomplishing any thing, just venting. Give it a rest. I don't know what government you think is going to wave the magic wand and calm every body down. If you think you have the right government now, then shut the fuck up and let them do their job. It always looks easier from the cheap seats.

I've had those same thoughts for a long time Carl. What sort of chance are they going to have to sort this all out.

I have so much enjoyed the concept of "Playing for Change". Maybe Kevin can send some of the ISIS guys copies of the BAND cd's and they'll mellow out.

As you have said they don't think or act like us. They probably don't listen to music. Their only music is the sound of an AK 47.

In the video of "Redemption Song" one of the very short clips is a little (probably 12 to 14 year old) girl in India dancing to the song. She is beautiful and so sweet and innocent looking it makes you wonder why are not all those people that way.

Look back to hundreds of years ago, the days of Ghengis Khan, they were warring tribes and they will never change. It is reportedly about 50,000 people in ISIS. Is it not possible to put enough boots on the ground from all nations to eliminate them from the face of the earth? They are not even an endangered species.

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BONK

I really worry about my grandchildren and their children to come. What the hell happened? Within 40 years, the world has become fucked.

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Kevin J

An hour later, I'm described as a loopy union activist ! Stop it, please. I was hoping we could have a sensible discussion and I was simply trying to make a few points about the thousands of innocent people that have been killed in drone attacks and bombings that don't get any tv coverage or songs played in their honour....and whose families are spit on and rejected as they flee their homelands looking for a new life........Don't ever think I am some sort of loopy lefty just criticizing everything and not caring about solutions or the victims of these crazed sociopathic terrorists.....The truth is I do not know what the solution is....What I do know is that the policies being followed in Syria have not worked and are not making things better and so it follows that doubling or tripling down on that policy is definitely not a solution.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 02:42:01 CET 2015 from (24.108.19.210)

BONK

OK Kevin. I'm interested to know your thoughts on how we stop terrorist attacks of any kind. What do we do now? Inviting these people into our home and lives doesn't work. They don't think like us. They don't rationalize like we do. They don't have that little voice in the back of their brains that say's, OK, I'm pissed off and angry but I think that I'll just listen to some music and calm down. Not in their vocabulary! This shit will, with out a doubt, come to bite us in the ass real soon.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 02:13:11 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: War - what is it good for?

Kevin, all your rhetoric seems to indicate that you see any of these acts of terrorism as only retaliation. That is absurd.

You have a lot to say about your stance on western governments and their position on dealing with terrorism. However you sure haven't offered any solutions.

You remind me of these union advocates I have put up with all my life, even when I was in unions. Spout off a lot about how wrong every one is but don't offer any positive help or solutions, just a lot of lip service and criticizing.

So every one should just stay at home and let the terrorists do as they will.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 02:08:30 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.78)

Jeff A.

The fact is from the beginning of time, attacks & wars have always been waged. Sometimes the guise of the initial aggression was in the name of religion, sometimes there was no guise.Sometimes it was unashamedly about power, control, territory, etc.

The world, more civilized as we'd like to pretend, cannot escape old ways, & primitive thinkers or money & power mongers exist & do not go away.

These terrorists are the worst of the lot, & if they are not put to rest, will keep going till they have exterminated every male who is not a Muslim, & enslaved or murdered every female & child who is not Muslim.

And that is an obvious fact. The history of this Kevin, is not something that was caused in the last century or two alone. The history of this goes back to early times.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 01:12:00 CET 2015 from (24.114.54.192)

Kevin J

I was in the UK when the government decided to not go forward with a military plan for Syria just a week or two ago....much to the dismay of some in the media......what are the odds, that stand will now be reversed.

Entered at Mon Nov 16 00:41:13 CET 2015 from (24.114.54.192)

Kevin J

Entered at Mon Nov 16 00:01:37 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

When historians look back at the history of this era, Angela Merkl will emerge as totally misguided. While Greece, while really strapped for cash and resources, said it should fingerprint and record immigrant arrivals and did so according to EU rules, Merkl was “No. just wave them all through.” She’s set a time-bomb for Germany and as a result for all of Europe.

Entered at Sun Nov 15 19:17:49 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Madonna in Stockholm

I think the older we get and the more we've seen does not harden or toughen us..........the easier it is to make us cry. Last night at her concert in Stockholm, Madonna made a speech about her feelings on this Paris situation, and broke into tears. She was feeling guilty for dancing and singing and having a good time, while people greaved. However her conclusion that this is what the people want, just to cause hurt and pain, to stop is to give in. You can't argue with that.

I haven't been a great fan of Madonna, although I admire her as a shrewd business woman and a great performer and she does sing some songs I like. She showed her very emotional and human side.

Your points are well taken Kevin, but where do you draw the line? I'm sure that but for these terrorist actions, not France nor any other country would be dropping bombs on any country. France is not a warring country.

A couple days ago on CBC I listened to a program where a journalist in Italy was interviewed and gave the accounts of how the Sicilian mafia, and the Mafia in Naples controls the movement of these Syrian refugees. They are said to be making more money at this time from housing and moving these refugees than they do on drugs.

Yesterday I watched a documentary about Vladimir Putin, when he first returned to Russia, (unemployed) and the mayor of Petersburg hired him as his assistant mayor. His job was to obtain and import food for the people. All the money disappeared and the food never came. Since that beginning the amount of vice and corruption he has used to win his power is staggering. Over and over anyone who has been tasked to investigate any of his or his subordinates doings just gets killed. One man who was a KGB detective now out of the country in his interviews just flatly said "There is no law in Russia." 37% of the wealth in Russia is controlled by 110 people.

The point is "all" of these wars in those countries is over one thing "power" that's all. Blaming religious beliefs or any other excuse matters not. It's power that's all, and PEOPLE don't matter.

Entered at Sun Nov 15 18:43:48 CET 2015 from (24.114.54.192)

Kevin J

Amidst all this sadness and moments of impression when people feel good about the painting of ice or grass surfaces at sporting events in the French flag, let's pause and think about the 1200 innocent mothers and fathers and children killed over the last few years in misguided drone attacks or the hundreds - possibly thousands of innocent people killed in Syria as a result of French bombs dropped over a country that never declared war on them.............of course, no western hockey or football team would ever think of decorating their arenas or stadiums in a Pakistani flag and to CNN or BBC or CBC, these people ( the innocent victims of bombs and drones ) really don't even exist......hell, their names are just too damn hard to pronounce and there are no cute "back stories" on them to fill out a story......BUT they all have mothers and brothers and children and grandmothers that hurt and remember everyone of these deaths..........Of course, the solutions being proposed and no doubt now supported by even the the most reasonable of the western governments in place to stand up to the 160 dead is to move forward with more bombing and more occupations. ........shameful all around.

Entered at Sun Nov 15 17:50:05 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Correction: Eric Truffaz Quartet

Sorry, that is Eric Truffaz Quartet.

Entered at Sun Nov 15 17:49:04 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Shut down of music venues

All concert venues in Paris are said to be shut down for the time being, according to something I read at a Deftones article. Deftones were to play the same venue (Bataclan) last night. When this will change, who knows. Eric Truffaz trio set to play in Paris Nov. 17.

Entered at Sun Nov 15 10:27:59 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I was touched to see that amazon.uk's page opens with a French flag and 'Solidarité.' Another moment was all those people filing out of the football ground and singing 'La Marsellaise." Even David Cameron ending his speech in French. These things count.

Entered at Sun Nov 15 02:20:33 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: RR: special

Kevin: You are describing the Robbie Robertson that my dad often spoke about at the Concord. He said that Robbie was different and was nothing like any of the other musicians he had met and they were a substantial number.

Entered at Sun Nov 15 02:08:26 CET 2015 from (24.114.54.192)

Kevin J

"Most people are knocked out by younger people. I'm knocked out by older people. Just look at their eyes. Hear them talk. They're not joking. They've seen things you'll never see." - Robbie Robertson ( via PV's article at this site )

That fact that RR said that in his 20's and could write a song with the grace and depth of Rockin Chair while also in his mid 20's is mighty impressive. I've always felt the same way about Paul McCartney and "Eleanor Rigby".

Entered at Sun Nov 15 01:26:19 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: A show of commitment in a time of trouble

Trafalgar Square: Well done, UK.

Entered at Sun Nov 15 00:50:44 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Dark was the Night - Roberto Luti

This song originally played by, Blind Willie Johnson. I'm SURE if any of those old Blues Men could hear what this guy can do they would drool wishing they could do this.

Roberto Luti is able to (just with his fingers) make it sound like he is using an echo devise. You need to read the history of his career since he was found in N'awlins with Wash Board Chaz. He was deported back to Italy because of visa problems. The comments from the writer about this situation are quite funny.

In this video is Roberto Luti only.........listen!

Entered at Sat Nov 14 20:15:32 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Haso - Higher Ground

Haso, thank you for your input. Your comments are most welcome. I will look for that one. It's funny that your timing was just right. I was just listening to Gimme Shelter, and my thought was listening to , (in my head) Eric Clapton, Robbie and the Band doing that song. It seems to be a style reminiscent of their work. It is a wonderful sound with many very interesting instruments and again Roberto Luti's slide is warm and wonderful. In that vid you get some really good looks at the construction of that old guitar of his.

I realize what you say, and Peter said re (the booze and drugs is true.) I also have always admired Brown Eyed Angelina's resourceful research work. How ever I maintain my position that the "in your face" horrible reality of a man's addictions needn't be sensationalised. It's bad enough to know about it and remember it.

When I lay back with closed eyes listening to the absolute superb music coming from Richard's voice, I don't want to think about these things and that they over came him in such a catastrophic way.

Entered at Sat Nov 14 19:59:12 CET 2015 from (73.47.239.0)

haso

Subject: comments on Chair

As an infrequent poster here, I've got to reply to Chair. Nevermind that his chosen name here has been my all-time RR song for the last 8 years or so. Probably because I'm getting closer to 73 than I ever was when the brown album 1st came out my soph yr in high school.

Anyway, I'm glad you've got onto PfC, Norm. That website has been a godsend for a long time, especially when I need to feel more upbeat about life. I recommend 2 things in addition to their original posting of "Stand by me": their version of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" and, if they ever are up your way in the Canadian Pacific, go see their live band. We saw them a few years ago @ Berklee Performance Ctr in Boston w/ Grampa Elliot, Jason Tamba & a bunch of others; they're as good live as on cd/dvd. At least in my unschooled opinion.

I'd guess the Band's music is too topical for them, but maybe Robbie could be a guest like Keith or Keb Mo or Garth on keyboards for just about anything. The credits in Robbie & Sebastian's "Icons..." say that Sebastian helped @ PfC at some point. I'd be interested to hear Sebastian's take on that organization.

Your comments a week back or so, taking BEG to task for reprinting tales-of-the-road & drug abuse by a majority of our subject matter here: you're right that maybe we could move on, yet Peter V is also right that it seems to come w/ the territory. Given today's (at least here in Northern New England) epidemic of opioid abuse, you'd almost wish a simple list of all the musicians/artists, gone before their time due to similar issues, would be enough for current users to seek help. However, that's way too idealistic; even though we all know that list is quite extensive.

I always think one of the best comments on Richard was Clapton's reminiscence on the "Classic Albums" dvd about Richard's fragility & power. There's no doubt he was THE singer; I still think the best part of that dvd is Levon & John Simon listening to Rockin' Chair.

Entered at Sat Nov 14 19:17:07 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Roberto Luti

Roberto Luti, is the slide guitar player (Playing For Change) on Redemption Song. He is so good and tasteful he had to be researched.

He plays a vintage National dobro and was a street musician in Italy. He made his way to New Orleans, "the big easy" and hooked up with the wash board player. I have a page written about him I put it to my desk top, but can't find a way to link it. (We're all agreed I'm kinda stupid that way.)

There are a couple other youtube vids of this guy. His sound on that instrument of his is the softest, tastiest, mellow slide guitar I have even heard. A superb talent to enjoy.

Entered at Sat Nov 14 18:24:03 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sat Nov 14 18:10:26 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Redemption Song

So won't you help me sing another song of freedom,

It's all I ever had..........Redemption song......

Entered at Sat Nov 14 18:05:32 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Josef Conrad

Norm : the link was a mistake. sorry... I was trying to say the Josef Conrad had it right.

Entered at Sat Nov 14 18:03:04 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Paco de Lucia

This very famous flamenco guitarist, I found again thru' my wanderings with Playing for Change on searching Nino Josele, (who plays on Redemption song). Paco was the hero of guitarists like Eric Clapton. They called him the "monster" guitar player. If you listen to any of his youtube vids. I remember him although I don't watch a lot of Flamenco. Well I didn't realize he died last year.

Jerry your link didn't work for me. To me the war video games are shameful. That people should make so much money from promoting such violence is wrong.

Entered at Sat Nov 14 17:49:50 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Paris

The horror! The horror!

Entered at Sat Nov 14 17:35:20 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Have a Nice Day

Bassman Lee, a very good job young man. You have spoken eloquently about these subjects and I appreciate your position.

This expression "have a nice day" is too often used sarcastically and is demeaning and insulting.

Jerry, these acts of violence as in Paris, I expect are especially hard for you after what you have had to live with. As we speak our boy Ken, (Susan's son) who is a millright in Estevan, Saskatchewan, him and his wife are leaving for Isreal and Turkey. Susan is beside herself this morning. Susan is one of those people who I call a "prophet of doom". She always has to look at the worse possible happenings. As we sit by our fire having our coffee this morning the snow is creeping further down the mountains across the inlet from us. It is winter!

Yesterday evening I received a call from my dear friend Peter in Tasmania. He just had his eye surgery for cataracts which I am waiting for my call to go and have. It's time for me to get away to see Peter. It's summer in Tasmania. I'll enjoy that..

Entered at Sat Nov 14 16:25:19 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Inhumane

Peter V: I have never understood the fascination with these games. I missed it. I play NO games of any kind and never have. I watch these kids do this and try to keep an open mind. Games and movies don't make people do inhumane or inhuman acts. But there is a lack of sensitivity!. In my view, these games of war and killing are obscene in their own right. I'm no pacifist but I wouldn't want my kids to accept that they can do these things to people, even in a game. It's hard to express how I really feel about this, but as I watch the events of Paris of yesterday, Peter, your words ring true.

Entered at Sat Nov 14 15:06:02 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sat Nov 14 13:03:16 CET 2015 from (108.2.144.116)

bassmanlee

Subject: Insomnia post!

The use of "hey" as a greeting or acknowledgement is, I believe, of Southern origin, now widely used elsewhere.

Terms of greeting or acknowledgement in the African-American jargon include “Hey, how’s it goin’”, sometimes dropping the “Hey”. As a white male, I find this useful as a cordiality in passing encounters with my darker brothers. Preferably spoken with eye contact and a nod. Sort of like the ritual Muslim greeting. I see you, I acknowledge you, I respect you, I am not a threat, and I don’t expect you to be a threat to me. The usual response is in kind, and no further interaction is expected, but may lead to a smile or in certain cases, a conversation. Admittedly a sad commentary on racial relations here in America.

Another Southernism is “Y’all”, which, this Yankee has adopted as very inclusive. “How y’all doing”, for example is gender neutral.

Increasingly “guys” has also become gender neutral. I have seen a waitress walk up to a table full or women and say “So, how are you guys doing tonight?” The old equivalent “gals” has fallen out of favor.

As to “No problem” as a response to “Thank you”, I have seen several rants and articles on this. While “You’re Welcome” may be more polite, what sense does it actually make? Many point out that the standard Spanish response (at least in the Americas) to “Gracias” is “No problemo”…no problem. I don’t know, as in, you did not cause me any extra effort? Turning this around, saying “Thank you” in itself implies that special effort has been made just for YOU? “Thanks” these days is really an acknowledgement that, hey, you did your job, you didn’t screw up or cause me any additional aggravation in my already difficult day.

Which leads to the top of my list of annoying verbalization, “Have a nice day!” or as now parroted by Wal-Mart cashiers, “Thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart. Enjoy the rest of your day.” No exclamation point there, because the delivery is flat as plate glass. George Carlin had a great riff on this. (See link.)

And let’s add to the fingernails-on-chalkboard list the corporate-induced policy of having the entire staff of an establishment chime out “Welcome to…(insert name of establishment here)” EVERY time a new customer walks through the door. This started in our area with a (pseudo)Mexican food chain of named Moe’s. Not only is this annoying to the customers but IMO demeaning to the employees, turning them into Pavlovian dogs. Bell rings, yell greeting to customer. This has now spread to the local drugstore (chemist for you Brits) and the haircut salon. I thought civilization was supposed to Evolve, not DEvolve.

Lastly, I enjoy the music links posted here. Since most of my listening is done at work where it is taboo to watch video, I have not been able to pursue the Play For Change thread, but enjoyed the samples of the new Dylan set, which made me go back and listen again to some of the previous bootleg series releases like the Witmark sessions and the New Self Portrait. Damn, one prolific bastard! My fave is still the Biograph set, which I guess was Bootleg, Vol. 1. For a guy who does not consider himself to be a big Dylan fan, I seem to have acquired a groaning shelf of his work. Go figure.

Peace to all and to all a good night/day!

Entered at Sat Nov 14 12:24:39 CET 2015 from (70.193.140.18)

David P

The 2-disc compilation is definitely the best bang for the buck. It's bargain price offers a wealth of formative music.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 21:31:35 CET 2015 from (173.68.71.190)

Jed

Got it today.Nice to hear all these songs in one place with many hidden gems and nuances worth much exploring.More then 2 discs might have overwhelmed me.So far,I'm digging it a lot,although Like a Rolling Stone bored me till they screwed up!Bloomfield is scorching.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 21:13:24 CET 2015 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Entered at Fri Nov 13 19:38:07 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Historical Unrepairable damage

John! There was so much Marywanna smoked at Woodstock, it has caused "Global Warming" that can't be repaired and still they blame it on every thing else :-):-)

Entered at Fri Nov 13 19:29:48 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Simone Felice and Simi Stone are Woodstock area born and bred. I hope he gets that far!

Entered at Fri Nov 13 19:23:30 CET 2015 from (88.3.253.120)

defed

good music over here, for christians...

Entered at Fri Nov 13 19:09:36 CET 2015 from (99.244.8.134)

John D

Entered at Fri Nov 13 18:16:15 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Fri Nov 13 18:10:58 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: AwwHaw!

Well now there you go see! "Grody" an expression I heard a lot before, never gave it much thought as it was not something in my vocabulary. So it must have been some one's ridiculous variation of your Grotty. Can't you people just speak plain English :-):-)

Last night on Seinfeld was again that crazy show where Jerry & George end up in a limo posing as some poor Irish soul "O'Brien who has been set up as the leader of the Arian movement. George gets set up reading some speech he is supposed to give putting down the "inferior" Jewish people and the other sub human races. I immediately thought of Jerry, Landmark and the others from that quarter. Only Seinfeld could get away with that.

The old proverb holds true, "I can kick my dog, but you can't." Back to my Mel Brooks days of "Blazing Saddles". OK! we'll take the n----rs and the J--s but we don't want the Irish. So stupid it has to be funny.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 17:33:26 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

In fact, I'd say "No problems" was the polite end of the four possibles.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 17:28:15 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Fri Nov 13 17:15:19 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Mispronunciation again

In fact, I though she was saying 'grody'

Entered at Fri Nov 13 17:08:35 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Moon Zappa mispronounces grotty on Valley Girl, I think. Or rather the California version is different to the British one. She says SO gr-oh-tee, where British is grotty. Grot rhymes with not, not groat.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 16:54:47 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Words of the prophet

In the words of Bob Marley:

Emancipate yourself from mental slavery,

Non but ourselves can free our minds,

Have no fear for atomic energy,

'Cause non of them can stop the time,

How long shall they kill our prophets,

While we stand aside and look,

Some say it's just a part of it,

We got to fulfill the book.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 16:45:41 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Torturing the English language in other ways

And then there are mispronunciations. The most vile (as used often by many politicians including Mr. Bush II )--'nucUlar' /for 'nuclear'.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 16:43:20 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Completely Rude

I hate the word "Dude" with a passion! Now when some one wants to be REALLY rude and says to me "Listen Dude" they got to know they are going to get a slap up side the head.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 16:41:20 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: what comes out of the mouth...

I was in Europe recently and going to a number of cities and towns. As you know, there are statues everywhere.

From the guy next to me while I'm in a square comes the following: "Oh, look at that, another dude on a horse".

I loved it.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 16:33:32 CET 2015 from (24.114.54.192)

Kevin J

We must also seperate the strange or annoying phrases ( dude, grotty, sick, etc. ) from the clearly rude. "No problem" is rude in almost all it's applications.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 16:23:03 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Hunh?

What's a dictionary :-)

Entered at Fri Nov 13 16:16:30 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: From a dictionary Norm

grotty |ˈgrätē| adjective (grottier, grottiest) Brit. informal unpleasant and of poor quality: a grotty little hotel. • [ as complement ] unwell: if the person feels very grotty, it is probably true influenza.

Zappa's daughter speaking: 'Grotty to the max'.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 16:11:11 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Assimilate

Calvin, it's the same as "trust me". It's just a dumb habit. Like the gawd damn news journalists on radio or tv that constantly say aaaah or uuuum. Some have the habit so bad you have to shut them off. You'd think people who do a lot of public speaking would improve themselves to sound more coherent.........gawd!

Thanks Peter M I have never heard that before. Now I gots to think up some way to use that on Jerry T. Like he just bums me out...............you know what I mean ......man??

Entered at Fri Nov 13 16:02:51 CET 2015 from (65.189.212.146)

Calvin

The suggestion of course is this person usually lies to you.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 15:53:39 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

"No problem" is pretty standard in Britain, because we never used to say "You're welcome" and the British equivalent was "Not at all" which sounds terribly formal. Recently, I hear "No worries" more frequently than "No problem". According to some this is an Antipodean import because of the number of backpackers doing a few months as waiters in London. It's spread very fast. For our Australian / NZ readers, do you think that's true?

Entered at Fri Nov 13 15:42:58 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

The Bob Dylan-Allen Toussaint connection, plus a tribute by Robbie Robertson

Freedom For The Stallion - 1985, written by Allen Toussaint

Entered at Fri Nov 13 15:33:01 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

Thanks for info Jon. I didn't know that Robbie had inducted Allen Toussaint into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I had posted "Stand By Me" Playing for Change when it first came out. However, "Redemption"......Totally dig the slide guitarist from Italy and keep playing it over and over.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 14:49:12 CET 2015 from (74.203.77.122)

Jon Lyness

Subject: RR on Allen Toussaint

Robbie's Facebook tribute to Allen Toussaint at the link.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 10:57:15 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I hear 'Yo' a lot in the UK and also 'Yo, bro" (from white people). It's moderately recent, and seems especially popular with 30-somehings, NOT teens. That might date its popularity.

On the other linguistic point, my 2 year old grandson has been slow to start speaking and has suddenly burst into constant chatter. His first thirty words include T-Rex, Star Wars and The Dark Outside (a confusion with Star Wars is in there somewhere). The Dark Outside is "scary" again an Americanism kids never used to use in the UK. This might tell us something about word frequency.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 10:52:53 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Thea Gilmore

The second singer-songwriter review in two days. Thea Gilmore is linked.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 03:28:49 CET 2015 from (66.249.83.100)

tracy danko

The Band are amazing. True musicans. Love you, Rick.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 03:04:35 CET 2015 from (108.16.242.238)

Peter M.

Don't know why I got that dead link, but I'd tried to send a GB message to Norm. Mentioned that "grotty" was Beatlemania-speak for grotesque. Mentioned that, although I'm from near Phila, I tend to say "Hey" instead of "Yo". I think it's a Southern low key greeting. I first grew to like it when I heard Scout, in the film "To Kill a Mockingbird" say, "Hey, Boo" to Boo Radley. Later (early '70's) I heard it used by low key hip types as a version of "hello". And interestingly, dogs respond really nicely when you say "hey" to them.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 02:51:12 CET 2015 from (108.16.242.238)

Peter M.

I composed an entry and hit the "preview" tab. It takes me to a page that just says "Link". Click on it, and it says "Scram".

Entered at Fri Nov 13 01:27:39 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Subject: The Beatles best number one

On a more uplifting note ITV did a pretty decent 2 hour programme with some previously unseen video footage/celeb interviews showcasing 27 transatlantic Beatle number ones to find their viewers favourite. From Love Me Do to Come Together and back again. Simply breathtaking. Hopefully the link can be accessed over your side of the water.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 01:20:03 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Subject: Small pool - v- Big pool

Sort of loosely connected to the demise of our shared mother tongue - take a quick peak at the viewing figures on You Tube for the linked song by someone called Majer Lazer. It's evidently the most downloaded song ever.

Only 226 million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God help us all.

:-0)

Entered at Fri Nov 13 00:42:45 CET 2015 from (184.66.163.29)

JT

Subject: Like, you know

Like, you know, this list is growing, you know.

Joan: You know is grating when one hears it over and over again.

What are we going to do about 'like'. I ride the underground a lot in Toronto and the kids speak loudly and it drives me nuts.

Entered at Fri Nov 13 00:03:23 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Simi Stone review

Review of SIMI STONE from The Duke and The King, and recently on the last two Natalie Merchant albums. See link.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 23:42:03 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Nov 12 21:25:44 CET 2015 from (72.69.100.142)

Joan

Entered at Thu Nov 12 20:32:15 CET 2015 from (99.16.133.205)

Adam

Entered at Thu Nov 12 19:41:14 CET 2015 from (84.215.171.237)

jh

We need the complete and correct set lists for each of the shows at the Academy of Music in New York City, from December 28 through December 31, 1971. Anyone?

Entered at Thu Nov 12 17:53:03 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Music & Memories

I have so enjoyed the music of the "Playing for Change" youtube videos the last couple days, it has sparked some memories and questions in my head from long ago.

First of all when I was about 20 I had a real good buddy from Jamaica.......his name was Dennis Jones. Dennis was the blackest! black man you'll ever see. We used to tell every one we were brothers :-) He had that Jamaican accent and dialect that is hard to understand. Back then I never thought much about it.

When Bob Marley came on the scene and particularly his "Redemption Song" it becomes more clear. The words me and my are not in their vocabulary. So my wondering is how that came about. Those people always refer to themselves as "I".

In his lyric:

The pirates they did rob I, sold I to the merchant ship

Minutes after they took I from the bottomless pit.

It took me quite awhile to learn he was referring to those dungeons like in Sierra Leone in "La Amistad".\ I mention this because it brought back this memory that has stayed with me all my life.

In 1963, the second time I came to work here to the logging camp at Mahatta River with my brother I had this experience. My brother and I worked for part of the time loading logs from the water onto the log barges them. There was a big loading machine on the beach my brother operated. I operated a small steel tug called a dozer boat pushing the logs to him to lift with the grapple and swing onto the barge.

These barges way back then were old deep sea ships, (Libian Freighters). These logging companies bought these old ships, removed all the house work and welded flat steel decks on them to load logs on. One day not long after I started working there with him, Howie says, "come on I got to show you something". We went down into the hull of this old ship right into the stern. All around the hull were welded steel bunks and they were inside steel bars just as you see in jail cells. Howie says, I was told in the late 1800's these were slave ships. Now I don't know that is really true, but it stunk down there so bad it was unbearable. I never got past the thought of those poor souls that may have been down there and what they were put through. Watching that movie "La Amistad" reminded me of what I had seen and it is something you don't forget.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 17:52:16 CET 2015 from (76.71.4.249)

Kevin J

Funniest ones are when new speakers to a language adopt slang phrases.....60 year old Eastern Europeans using "Dude" or kids on a bus dressed in school ties and jackets talking like ghetto kids.......or anyone over 20 using a term like "sick" to complement a great athletic performance.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 17:18:48 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Pondering

What in the fuck does "grotty" mean :-)???????

Entered at Thu Nov 12 16:57:54 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Additions to annoying verbal communications

"No problem" and "Trust me" are excellent additions to an annoying verbal communication list.

Hey you. Im like overwhelmed by this list. Trust me. I'll let you go now since I know you're busy. No problem. And to be honest with you, I've got things I have to do now. But this list is awesome. Grotty to the max!

Entered at Thu Nov 12 16:35:58 CET 2015 from (67.84.78.19)

Jeff A.

On that note, I'm back out the door to deal with the multitudes. Kevin, i got to send you guys some news paper links. Cause, this is one wild place. Along with all the fun you can have , the murders and crime is off the charts. Just a bout week ago now, In about a week period there were about 12 or 14 murders and several randomn stabbings and cuttings here. Two people were stabbed randomly in brooklyn, violently, separate occurrences, and another guy on the train got his face slashed open in a few places by some nut with a box cutter. No connection between the cutter & cuttee. guy just went off. so, you gotta be careful all the time, but life goes on and you can have a balst. but, you gotta be on your toes. So sometimes it takes little efoort to get a conversation goign with a stranger, sometimes it taakes a little more, but if you sense the person don;t wanna talk, you leave em alone, cause they may come out blazing. ad then there's alos the other side, when you are the talkee..... but, it's generally just life and can be really a blast if you let it happen. and don't get your ass handed to you.

Al Edge, a good fucking morning to you! :-) Jerry. OY, i'm gonna go to that thing.IT's huge! Like i always say: A BIG FUCKING OY!

Entered at Thu Nov 12 16:35:33 CET 2015 from (24.114.54.192)

Kevin J

Winner by a country mile ? Hands down to me,the all time annoying one is: "No Problem", in place of "you're welcome"

Entered at Thu Nov 12 16:32:25 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Pet Peaves

I'm generally in agreement with you Jerry, but my number 1 & 2 are. 1). WHATEVER! 2). Trust me! I gawd damn near want to choke any one who says "trust me".

I explained before what the definition of stress is!

When your mind has to overcome your body's uncontrollable urge to choke the living shit out of some fool who really needs it!

Entered at Thu Nov 12 16:22:05 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Verbal communication annoyances

Verbal communication annoyances: 1) Like 2) hey or hey there 3) awesome 4) whatever 5) I'll let you go now (as if the other person has any control on the phone of whether or not I wish to continue the conversation) 6) to be honest with you (when are you dishonest with me?)

Like - wins by a country mile! Since Zappa and 'Valley Girl' and valley talk, it has crucified the English language communications among the young and is slowly but inexorably creeping into our collective conscience.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 16:06:31 CET 2015 from (24.114.54.192)

Kevin J

Thanks, Jeff.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 15:34:09 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: The downloading debacle: update

Update on downloading tracks: The latest message, received and confirmed by many, is that those responsible are aware of the many issues limiting and defeating ability to download 'Cutting Edge' tracks and that soon (?) there will be sent out a new e-mail with information that will solve the issues and facilitate downloading with a new link (my words interpreting what I have read). Sad but true.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 12:07:07 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Playing for Change

Al, have a look at the others I linked. Particularly "Redemption Song" Read about it and you'll understand. This has been going on since 2002. Don't know why I've never picked up on it.

Not just playing for change in your pocket on the street, playing to unite the world with music and make change and PEACE. What a wonderful concept.

On the other videos all the folks names are displayed.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 11:41:55 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Norm - wow - who they mate?

Too Beautiful.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 11:28:04 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

You suddenly realise how far your own feeble brain has strayed out of the loop when Pete, Mike and others on here revel in the joy these names incite within them yet the same names don't prompt so much as the merest flicker of recognition within the dying embers of your own once alert bonce.

Nice videos though!

And yet ...YO...now that really does evoke an instant connection. You reckon it's that instinctive Brooklyn/scouse thing eh Jeff lad. Or is it just me watching too many Sylvester Stallone movies?

:-0)

On the same tack is it me or does everyone in nearly every recent movie/TV drama now greet each other with "Hey"

:-0)

Entered at Thu Nov 12 03:56:38 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: A Change is Gonna Come - At Folsom

A change is gonna come was discussed quite a bit here recently. No one mentioned this. Not even Sam Cooke who is one of my all time heroes did this.

These people have that feeling that we have all, always appreciated with the BAND. This kind of thing belongs here.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 03:51:55 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.7)

Jeff A.

In case it wasn't obvious, here we grew up calling a lot of skilled workers "mechanics." You had siding mechanics, and window mechanics. Which in most other places i've been were called " siding installers", window installers.. Today, out of habit, most of us would still refer to a great computer repairman as a great mechanic. i imagine a elevator mechanic is a elevator mechanic anywhere. But in genral, the word mechanic here was never limited to vehicle or elevators. If you were skilled with your hands and knew how to use your brains at the same time, you were a good mechanic. But plumbers were plumbers & electricians were electricians. But i think we called boiler repairmen boiler mechanics.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 02:37:26 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.7)

Jeff A.

Entered at Thu Nov 12 02:10:03 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.7)

Jeff A.

Lee, Philly is a Yo city too, no doubt about it. But honestly now, the kids coming up knowing Yo in Philly, i cant imagine them delivering it well, or even appropriately. The kids, white, black, yellow, tan, regardless of the country they or their parents come from, here included, pre teens and teens, and even people in their 20s and 30sthat use Yo here, well, it's more often than not "Yo nigga" and offered with a slur, no elocution, no nothing. And that n word is just plain old disgusting and sorry, and it's constant use is just one symptom of an ailing, aimless society. The word Yo deserves a proper delivery. thank God, some of my odl friends are still around. I can still count on Charles for a good Yo Moe, or a Yo Tonto. His other name for me. This is the kid that he and he and his father worked for me for a long time. He, me , and his pop,still brothers to this day. Amongst NYers of say 40 or 45 and up, Yo still gets used correctly frequently, without thought to it..

BTW Jerry, that article you must have read in the Times, I linked it. the frigging writer is a moron. I;m gonna have to take him to task. I didn' treally read the article, glanced at it yesterday and again this morn after reading your post but i can imagine how the thing must be if the opening line was enough to make me crazy.

"The rude interjection is a staple of New York life." Fuck no it ain't no rude interjection. What truck did this writer fall out of? You want to write about NYC and NYers, at least have a solid understanding of what & who you are writing about. This moron been here a couple of years and obviously hasn't learned too much.

Entered at Wed Nov 11 23:10:35 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Favourite Moment in Time

Thanks Joe, that was fun.

My favourite Band moment in time was watching Richard at that concert in Calgary, (Festival Express), sing Rockin Chair.......those two old sailors.

Not hard to figure out why my yacht is named "Rockin Chair".

Entered at Wed Nov 11 21:45:57 CET 2015 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Subject: Toussaint

Link is to Wild Tchoupitoulas (produced by Allen).

Thanks Norm for link to 'Redemption Song'.

Entered at Wed Nov 11 21:18:19 CET 2015 from (76.71.4.249)

Kevin J

Entered at Wed Nov 11 21:03:12 CET 2015 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: Yo

Don't worry, Jeff, 'Yo' is alive and well and living in Philly.

Entered at Wed Nov 11 19:05:57 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.7)

Jeff A.

How people are reacting, i don;t really know, I just read about it for the first time two days ago, and it seems like it;s getting attention. But, you know, it's all kind of odd, cause there need be no idols to old Brooklyn, they shoulda just left alone. So it;s kinda like an acknowledgement of the fact that everything has gotten commercialized, knocked down, disrespected, and just used to make money in a different form. Th word Oy will never go away, but the word Yo, in all it's glory, proper accent, and with the correct force, delivery, gonna be a thing of the past very soon. Kids growing up here don't sound like Brooklynites no more, they sound like aliens. A business i frequent has a bout 6 or 7 women in their mid 20s and i;m amazed they sound like perfect Brooklyn girls, voices, accents, attitudes.

When i know more about that installation i;ll tell ya, but hey, though i;m in that area often enough, i still haven't even been in Brooklyn Bridge Park. I knew the Red Hook waterfronts some as a teenager, and in my twenties, and though the park is supposed to be beautiful, i haven;t had the courage to go there yet. i know all those multi million dollar coops buildings that went in to the old factories , worked some in a bunch of em in 08, 09, & the types that have moved in to those factory conversions, and see what changes the stores and businesses over there went through...SO i been- well, i been a little afraid of being disappointed by what i see 7 the people i meet in the park. But, hey, everything changes, and now i got a nother reason to go there. I'll let ypu know what i tihnk.

One nicer aspect of some of these changes- i meet tourists on the Brooklyn trains all the time now. I've met alot of scouses, and some peopel form Germany, Scandinavia, Manchester. Just about 90 minutes ago i sent about 20 minutes with two gals on the train, they were from Italy. Liek so many of these tourists , now they come and stay in Northern Brooklyn( mostly, some stay in SOuthern brooklyn), as opposed to Manhattan. These two gals were on the F train, and had a big camera, and tooka few shots out the train window... So i pretty much knew they were going to Coney Island, the last stop about 13, 14 stops from where they got on.. And the first thing i thought of was to tell em not to walk West of the baseball stadium. or North of Surf avenue. So i said, , excuse me ,that camera makes me figure you're from out of town and going to Coney Island , where are your from?....And that started it. They were from Florence, and completely knocked out by how- "HUGE" Brooklyn is. I gave em pointers, of course where to go for pizza, etc etc. this happens abut once or twice aweek. that part is nice...funny, i asked these two gals if they had family in Brooklyn, and they didn;t.. but they definitely understood the irony of Italians from Italy not having any relatives in NYC.

Gotta run. Excuse any typos.

Entered at Wed Nov 11 16:16:51 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Redemption Song

Bob Marley was discussed quite a bit here recently. I was compelled to link this PFC vid of this song, where you get to see Bob's son Stephen as well as Bob and all the others do the best of this song I've ever heard.

Rather than buying any more of Bob Dylan's material to make him richer, I'll be buying this DVD and CD.

Making change around the world with music is something I absolutely endorce and subscribe to.

Entered at Wed Nov 11 15:14:43 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: OY/YO

Jeff: Tell us about the local response to the OY/YO sculpture under the bridge (Deborah Kass). I read about it in NYT and had an initial positive response. It says much more than sculptures like AMSTERDAM in that city or BUDAPEST in that city. I'd take a photo under OY anytime!

Entered at Wed Nov 11 14:58:44 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: the bottom line

I doubt it. The bottom line, Peter, the bottom line.

Entered at Wed Nov 11 14:49:07 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The help desk doesn't help either … mind you,by the time you've waited hours and fiddled about, it's easier just to rip the CDs into iTunes. I think they're catering for those afraid of sullying the set! All the pieces of printed tracing paper are easy to crease and there are three different sizes.

I started on CD18, as one would. Lost Highway, Blus Stay Away From Me, Wild Mountain Thyme, Young But Daily Growing … with Baez and Neuwirth … would fit right into the Basement Tapes.

If I was a King with Robbie is the unbootlegged one, and in two versions, but the tune while lovely, is close to recycled Queen Jane Approximately. He announces Sad Eyed Lady of The lowlands with "This is the best song I ever wrote." Erroneously, I think.

Do you think that Sony sent Joan Baez and Robbie a free copy?

Entered at Wed Nov 11 14:21:22 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: downloading Bootleg 12 from Sony

I've been reading at other sites about the difficulties with the download for the 18 cd set. Most who write have been totally unsuccessful. Some have been able to download a few tracks with interruption and ultimate failure. All in all, to date, there has been little overall success. For that price, it is clear that a 32 GB USB stick (it sounds from the writers to these forums that that would have been enough for MP3, though for wav and flac more would be needed) should have been included in the package with all the other materials. This would have avoided the entire mess Sony and anyone else associated with this has experienced. It will be interesting to see how this is managed and corrected.

Entered at Wed Nov 11 05:31:26 CET 2015 from (173.3.51.117)

Jeff A.

Subject: Kinky Friedman Interview

Kinky talks alot about the Rolling Thunder tour with Dylan. And Warren Zevon.

Politics? "I’m supporting Bernie Sanders, because I want to see a Jew in the White House!” he says with a mischievous howl. “If he wins, it will be the first time a Jewish family moved into a place where a black family just moved out.”

Entered at Wed Nov 11 01:47:12 CET 2015 from (32.216.232.163)

Todd

Subject: Vol. 13 - The Tuning Tapes

You haven't lived until you've heard Bob tune his guitar in glorious 5.1 surround sound. If we're lucky they'll include a bonus disc of the sounds of Bob changing the ribbon on his typewriter. It's rumored that the unedited version, will include a flurry of expletives as Bob jams his finger on the semicolon key. That all sounds very appealing, but I'm only biting if they include it with the limited edition picture disc.

Entered at Wed Nov 11 00:08:38 CET 2015 from (99.244.8.134)

John D

Just went to bobdylan.com and the 18 CD set is still for sale. Not sure what you paid in England; but with our sagging dollar the 600.00 price becomes 800.00. Then there would be tax and then cross border fees. Could end up costing us around 1000.00 here.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 23:29:01 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Tue Nov 10 23:20:22 CET 2015 from (174.236.1.6)

Todd

Subject: Late to the party

Thanks Peter V. I haven't been keeping up with all of the new releases as much as I used to, although I have been collecting and enjoying The Beatles Mono Vinyl all analog reissues.

On the bright side, I suppose I've saved $600. Maybe will investigate the download version if the price ever drops. In the meantime, I will pick up the 6 CD box for now to scratch that itch.

Or I could just wait for next year's deluxe box set, which is rumored to be a collection of studio chatter interspersed with Bob tuning his guitar.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 21:33:39 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Tue Nov 10 20:44:36 CET 2015 from (82.22.145.205)

Ian W

I will not bore you with the ineptitude of UPS or the bizarre way that Music Today went about their business but the BBB arrived today. Mine is No. 4585, which is strange since, as I recall, Peter ordered his copy quite some time before I placed mine. It is a handsome beast but, in terms of playing the CDs, rather intimidating. When and how will I fit it all in, I wonder?

I've had exactly the same problems as Peter as regards the download. Apparently, the server got overloaded once they'd initially contacted people. Of course, he said sarcastically, nobody but nobody could have predicted that and prepared for it. Having tried and failed, their system thinks you've got it, so you therefore have to pay for what it thinks is your "second" copy.

Put simply, Sony failed to deliver the physical product in an efficient manner and is now failing to deliver the digital product at all to those of us with the box.

Is it any wonder that the music business is suffering so?,

Entered at Tue Nov 10 20:09:49 CET 2015 from (174.236.1.6)

Todd

Thanks Peter V. Sounds like the big box will sell out. I suppose time will make that decision for me as I'm not ready to purchase yet. It's the hotel room stuff that I'm really interested in. Just not sure of how many takes of Like a Rolling Stone I can justify as part of the price of admission.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 20:02:33 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The Alt Take (#11) of Like A Rolling Stone is on sale as a vinyl 45 too,

Entered at Tue Nov 10 19:48:36 CET 2015 from (174.236.1.6)

Todd

Subject: Bobby D

Thanks David P. I got it now. I actually have the 1966 release. Was hoping maybe more live marerial from that prolific period had surfaced for this new release. I'll probably go for the 6 disc version of vol. 12. Anyone here plumping for the 18 disc monster box?

Entered at Tue Nov 10 17:25:06 CET 2015 from (76.71.4.249)

Kevin J

Subject: Allen Toussaint

"Allen Toussaint is the truth of New Orleans music" - Robbie Robertson

LINKED a nice tribute to Allen that relates to his great association with The Band.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 16:59:37 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Player of the Year!

The players choice after voting by his peers is Josh Donaldson. I am happy to see him receive this award, I believe he earned it.

I apologise as I meant no disrespect to Peter Stone Brown or David Powell, or anyone else for their passion for their music of choice. However there is other things that have always sparked attention here.

I hope some of you take a minute to have a look at "Playing for Change" and what these people accomplish and why. Perhaps it has been shown here before when I wasn't around.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 16:34:08 CET 2015 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Todd: Sorry my post was confusing. Live tracks are not included in the Cutting Edge releases, except for the Collectors Edition that includes the 45-single of I Want You / Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues. That B-side Liverpool track is available elsewhere, however. I was trying to point out, albeit poorly, that during the Cutting Edge time period, live recordings were done. So, during that short time period of a year & a half, Dylan was recording live in addition to those studio sessions that produced three albums, along with all the outtakes and alternate versions.

Of course, the Manchester concert was previously released as the Live 1966, Bootleg Series 4. I do recall that Ballad of a Thin Man, recorded in Edinburgh, was included in the No Direction Home release.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 16:25:29 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

NOVEMBER 9, 2015
Bob Dylan and the “Hot Hand”
BY DAVID REMNICK
The New Yorker

Entered at Tue Nov 10 15:08:59 CET 2015 from (32.216.232.163)

Todd

Subject: Allen Toussaint

Sorry to hear the news about Allen Toussaint. Such a talent and added a lot of flavor to what the Band was doing.

I only saw him one time, but it was a good one. The taping of Elvis Costello's show at the Apollo theater in Harlem, with Levon, Richard Thompson, and Nick Lowe.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 15:00:00 CET 2015 from (32.216.232.163)

Todd

Subject: Mixing up the medicine

David P. which version of the Dylan release has the live tracks? I'm tryIng to decide which version to purchase. I'll probably go for the 6 disc version. The 18 disc set is a little too much for my budget right now. But I could be swayed if there is a substantial amount of live Dylan/Hawks not available elsewhere.

Regarding Molly Ringwald. The 1984, 1985, 1986 trifecta of 16 Candles, Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink, was a fine accomplishment, and captured some of the coming of age experience for teens in the 1980's. As someone who graduated highschool in 1984, those films were right in my wheelhouse.

I didn't know Molly Ringwald personally, but had the opportunity to photograph her in the late 1990's. She was a guest on a television Christms special that I was working on at that time. She was pleasant, professional, easy to work with and showed no signs of ego. Just a genuinely nice and sincere person.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 15:01:07 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Allen Toussaint RIP

Apparently he died soon after coming off stage. Link to short review of when I saw him in 2007 … time flies by so quickly. A really strong Band connection. RIP.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 14:47:39 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: No one knows...

No one knows the hell that occurs in a person's life. To focus on the ills of a person's existence and think somehow that we have any perception of what it was like is misguided. I agree that the demons that haunted and led to the demise of Richard Manuel are not anything we can understand. Leave it alone and in the past. Again.. the music, the talent, the awe-inspiring vocals...that's where the attention should be. What SNL did with its 1 hour show is sad..but that's TV. Motives? Who knows and really...who cares.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 14:45:50 CET 2015 from (173.68.71.190)

Jed

I just read he passed away.Is that true? If so,what a shock.RIP to a great great musician.I last saw him at Love for Levon & he stole the show.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 14:26:34 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

I saw Mavis with this band at Kitchener's Blues Fest as well as at our Jazz Fest. The other time was at our Harbourfront Festival with the Staple Singers including of course her pops. You can never go wrong catching any of her shows. When I had to get through something for four years; I listened to "Keep Your Eye On The Prize". And yes I got through......Thank you Mavis!

Entered at Tue Nov 10 14:14:58 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

I see on the day Northern Girl will be in town maybe we can catch MAVIS!

"A popular hit at Hot Docs 2015, this spirited portrait of Mavis Staples shines with six decades of genre-crossing and perspective-changing music. Staples reveals intimate tales of her life onstage and off-from the Southern gospel circuit and freedom songs beloved by Martin Luther King Jr., to more recent chart-topping hits. Audiences will enjoy stirring renditions of “I’ll Take You There,” “Do It Again,” “Why Am I Treated So Bad” and more, alongside enthusiastic interviews with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Chuck D and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. The joy of fandom from director Jessica Edwards is undeniable as the film weaves together archival footage, interviews and buoyant live performances to create a paean to the living legend. It’s exactly this open-heartedness that makes Mavis! accessible to all: the unconverted and the choir, alike."

Director Jessica Edwards will participate in Q&As on November 13, 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and November 14 at 4:00 p.m.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 14:07:57 CET 2015 from (99.244.8.134)

JohnD

That should read Jessie Lee.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 13:55:50 CET 2015 from (99.244.8.134)

John D

So I see the name SNAFU and all these memories of Situation Normal come back to me. Thank goodness for Toppermost; because I did not know the name of the keyboard player Pete Jolley. The song Jesse Lee was always my favorite. Played it over and over again on CHUM-FM in the old days. The two organ solos (at the time) reminded me of Garth. Again at the time I thought they sounded Bandish on that track. As time went on I think it was the structure of the song that made me feel that way. Went to Jolley's Wikipedia site. Not a mention of SNAFU. Downloaded Jesse Lee from iTunes. Thanks Jimmy for turning the lightbulb on.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 13:35:04 CET 2015 from (70.193.133.73)

David P

While various topics are swirling around here this week, I'm totally focused on the Dylan Cutting Edge release. Keep in mind also that, in addition to the recordings from three landmark album sessions, there are live recordings from the European leg of the tour with the Hawks. As chronicled in the liner notes from the Bootleg Series 4 Live 1966 release, Columbia recorded concerts at Sheffield, Manchester and London on a 3-track recorder, with tapes from Manchester having the best quality. At the same time, D.A. Pennebaker's film crew recorded audio on a state of the art Nagra mono recorder. An early sample of the live shows, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, recorded from à line feed from the Nagra at Liverpool, was released as the B-side of the 45 single release of I Want You from the Nashville sessions.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 11:27:07 CET 2015 from (88.208.1.138)

Daan Mors

Subject: Lifestory

Wow, that is a great site about this amazing band. I found a lot of useful information here. My dad loved it very much and I'm sure I listened to them before I could even walk =) Music always played in our house and one of the first impressions of music in my life is connected with The Band. If I remember it right, my favourite album would probably be Islands of 1977. The love of music, instilled to me by my dad, made me become a DJ, as my father once was. Music is beautiful! =)

Entered at Tue Nov 10 11:00:59 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

We’ve done the camera thing to death, and the links showed they focussed on Richard in Georgia, and not during the others on SNL, and BEG explained why in the Cathy Smith quote. As for drugs and alcohol, it’s all part of the story, I’m afraid. It's why The Band, in the end, under-achieved and broke up. But what they left was incredible and to be celebrated. Nevertheless, we still will think of what might have been.

As I’ve said on TLW, Festival Express and various TV performances, if you had the job of lighting and camera, you would really have struggled to give fair space to someone seated behind a large black piano at one side too. I find that a lot of the good B&W YouTube footage of bands from the 60s and early 70s is French or German TV shows, precisely because they overlit the whole studio so could show everybody. You can’t light a concert like that.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 10:37:12 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Celebrate?

I've gone mad Kevin? It has been explained here, (I thought), this site was to "Celebrate and honor" the music and work of the BAND.

So digging up more crap like this on Richard, (or anyone of them's) failings with drugs and alcohol is a real "celebration" of his life and talent and music.

Well then give the school teacher a gold star on her essay for digging up the shit about how many times Richard puked before going on stage. The man is dead, found by one of his friends in the saddest conditions of taking his own life from the torment of that junk. That's really something to celebrate and keep on the front page like the National Enquirer. That is sick!

Entered at Tue Nov 10 06:36:19 CET 2015 from (24.114.73.73)

Kevin J

Entered at Tue Nov 10 06:00:41 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

Entered at Tue Nov 10 05:58:50 CET 2015 from (97.127.30.101)

Rhythm Jimmy

Link works for me, Chair. Maybe doesn't work outside U.S.A., I dunno. It's a link to Youtube, "Prairie Lullaby," from the album "Pottery Pie," by Geoff & Maria Muldaur. Sweet dreams!

Entered at Tue Nov 10 05:48:12 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: KINK!

What ever you did Jimmy it comes up, "This video is not available." Check your code, you must have "fucked up".

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Rhythm Jimmy

Subject: This one's for you, Chair

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Impressive!!!

Peter Stone Brown is only satisfied if the conversation suits him. Has to be the Band and Bob Dylan only! Dragging up material that is being, redone, revisited, re perfected.

Brown Eyed Angelina is popping up links to Richard singing that same song with his pumpkin on the piano that we have seen at least seven thousand times.............oh! good one. Tell the whole world over and over again his problem with drugs, how stoned he was, how drunk he was. Are you a sadist? Is this something nobody has ever heard before? WOW! what a great deal of "new" information. A great "lifting" experience.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 04:56:49 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

Chasing The Dragon...Cathy Smith:

"When the house doctor arrived, he gave Richard a shot to counteract the heroin. The doctor's shot may have saved Richard's life, but it didn't exactly restore him to normalcy. As soon as he was well enough to move, he leaned over and threw up.

I felt nauseated myself and kept rushing to the bathroom, but nothing would happen. Richard, on the other hand, was sick to his stomach more or less continuously for forty-eight hours.

"Jesus Christ," Larry Samuels said the first time it happened. The he smiled at me. A real smile for the first time since Richard had forced them to take me on the tour. "Take care of him."

Even by the time The Band was supposed to tape their "Saturday Night Live" appearance, Richard hadn't recovered. The doctor said the had to stay in bed, but the show went on. We got him backstage and he propelled himself to his piano when the time came for him to perform.

"Don't worry," Richard croaked, "I can do it." the man who had been called the greatest white blues singer of the decade sounded like an old dying wino.

One of the numbers was to be Richard singing "Georgia On My MInd." The spotlight came on him. His face was deathly white and his hands were trembling so badly as he put them to the mike that his bones seemed to be vibrating. Garth Hudson played organ; Richard didn't have to touch his piano. He simply sat on the piano stool and began to sing. Richard's sweet perfect bluesy voice took control of the studio, sometimes soaring, sometimes threatening to falter, but always perfectly in control. When he was finished there was a frozen moment of silence - then everyone started to clap and whistle."

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Rhythm Jimmy

Subject: "Georgia on My Mind"

No one sings 'em like Ray, but this is most beautiful rendition I know. Sung just right, with an achingly perfect solo by Amos Garrett.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 04:34:21 CET 2015 from (97.127.30.101)

Rhythm Jimmy

Thanks for the links, BEG. Too bad the only Youtube vids of this performance are boots with shitty sound. Richard sure nailed "Georgia," didn't he?

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brown eyed girl

....and Stage Fright on SNL.

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brown eyed girl

...and Georgia On My Mind on SNL.

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brown eyed girl

....and Life Is A Carnival on SNL.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: "The Breakfast Club"

Anyone who doesn't like Molly Ringwall is not playing with a full deck anyway, (but that is shown over and over). The work that her and her peers did in this movie was outstanding.

With no props, special effects, or heavy story lines, these people very emotionally portrayed, "coming of age" and understanding your feelings and the respect of one another. It is a classic, and so is Mollie Ringwall, (along with her co-stars.)

Entered at Tue Nov 10 03:42:05 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Stand by me

Any of you who take the time to watch this music, make sure you look on the side bar to the right. Click on and watch "Stand by me". People from all over the world playing together.

This is what the world should be all about. This is the ultimate, and emotional!

Entered at Tue Nov 10 03:40:27 CET 2015 from (100.11.74.162)

PSB

Subject: re: Where's Richard

On the original broadcast of Saturday Night Live, Richard Manuel was featured with "Georgia On My Mind." It was the Halloween, and the Saturday before the '76 election and "Islands" wasn't out yet, and the camera during the song was mostly focused on him.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 03:38:22 CET 2015 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Subject: Molly Ringwald

What's wrong with Molly Ringwald? Many of us who were teenagers in the 1980's have fond memories of the John Hughes movies that she starred in.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 03:29:06 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Playing for Change

I think I figured it out I hope............

Entered at Tue Nov 10 03:25:21 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: PFC - "Playing For Change"

I don't know if any of y'all have seen this. This is from Mark Knopfler's Face Book site. This is so cool.

These guys are all over the world, playing together by the internet. Playing for change, they started up, and this is the best improve music you can find.

I tried to link this and unfortunately I can't make it work with my limited computer knowledge. This is a bunch of musicians all over the world playing, "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" together from countries all over the world. It's the damnest thing and it's wonderful. Hope y'all can pick this up somehow.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 02:31:19 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

Trouble Me...The only song I really liked from 10.000 Maniacs' Blind Man's Zoo.
So when I saw this band in concert....The other songs just didn't resonate with me as opposed to the group not performing well.

Entered at Tue Nov 10 02:19:29 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

I saw 10,000 Maniacs in 1989 at the O'Keefe Centre (now called the Sony Centre) in Toronto.. I didn't enjoy the concert at all except for the one song I taught and had some classes perform at school concerts......Trouble Me.

From Tiger Lilly I always listen to Where I Go because of the guitar work, lyrics and just easy going groove.

I forgot to attend last week......PARADISE IS THERE Bloor Cinema November 2/15

Paradise is There revisits Natalie Merchant’s multi-platinum solo debut Tigerlily, originally released in 1995. Merchants’ entire musical life is encapsulated in this very personal film, which digs deep into her music through live performances, archival footage and interviews. Her fellow musicians, friends and impassioned fans share how the songs of Tigerlily have influenced them over the past 20 years, and how the power of music itself affects us in profound, lasting and uplifting ways.

Special guest Natalie Merchant will introduce the film and participate in a post-screening Q&A.

Well, I go to the river to soothe my mind
Ponder over the crazy days of my life
Just sit and watch the river flow (In my youth it was the Grand River)

The mad pace, the hurry, the hurry
The troubles, the worries, the worries
Just let the river take them all away
Flow away, flow away

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Jeff A.

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Kevin J

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RocKwiz

Subject: The Last Waltz Revisited - Australia

Hi folks, we produce a live music trivia TV show in Australia which we also tour live. Our next venture is to revisit The Last Waltz as a live concert with some of Australia's best performers. We want to get in touch with anyone who was actually at at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on November 25, 1976 so if anyone was there or knows of someone who was, please let us know here or you can post direct to our Facebook page from the web link here.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 23:27:44 CET 2015 from (64.229.236.80)

Mike Nomad

For shame, Jeff. I like Molly, the epitome of Seventies (it was the '70s, wasn't it?) innocence and youthful charm. And she's aged well, unlike -- well, me! And Norm likes her, too. So watch it, fella.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 23:11:56 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.56)

Jeff A.

But just a week or two ago, one morning while i was doing some work with the news on in the background, Molly Ringwald was on one or two segments of NBC's news & morning show. I never cared for anything she did or was in, that i am aware of, and when she commented about something afterward she remarked that she was going to discuss it in more detail when she writes her memoirs. a big Oy Vey Es Mir to that. The Molly Memoirs. OY!

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Carmen

Subject: Dire Straits

One of my all time favorites. Guitar is in the style of RR for sure. This is an album of Deep Cuts.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 22:13:32 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Ladybird

While we're on Natalie Merchant, iPads do not lie. This is my most played track of the last 18 months. "Ladybird" by Natalie Merchant (with Simi Stone on backing vocals). Listen through to the point where it goes Beatlesque!

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Peter V

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Kevin J

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Peter V

Subject: 10,000 Maniacs Unplugged

You might prefer this version.

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Peter V

Subject: These Are Days, 10,000 Maniacs

Kevin, 1,123,000 hits on YouTube can't be wrong.

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Kevin J

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Peter V

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Kevin J

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Peter V

I have a ticket for Simi for Wednesday evening!

And obviously Van Morrison is more pleasing than Them.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 18:27:31 CET 2015 from (76.71.4.249)

Kevin J

That all said, "Sultans of Swing"......is one of only 4 or 5 rock n roll songs in my life where I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard it and remember it so well because it had such a huge impact on me in so many ways. Love it as much to this day....the 2nd album too but after that not so much.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 17:49:40 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Mark

"Brothers in Arms" Jerry. I've been a fan of Mark's since the early days when him and his brother started Dire Straits.

I expect you knew too, his father was a Hungarian Jewish man who had to flee in 1939.

I particularly like the work he did with "Emmy Lou" on the "All The Road Runnin" tour. I have the CD and DVD.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 17:12:06 CET 2015 from (131.137.34.213)

sadavid

Subject: everybody's doing it

Another in a bumper crop of rock-star memoirs . . . see [My link] for a sample of the Elvis Costello autobio.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 16:11:08 CET 2015 from (174.91.166.105)

brown eyed girl

Robbie Robertson...the Children's Book by Sebastian Robertson: 10-Page Preview

Indian Country Today Media Network

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brown eyed girl

Call Me Levon

By Ken Gordon

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brown eyed girl

Established in 2006, American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical perspectives and analysis of indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books, the school curriculum, popular culture, and society. Scroll down for links to book reviews, Native media, and more.

First thoughts on Robbie Robertson's HIAWATHA AND THE PEACEMAKER

Debbie Reese: "When I get a book written by a Native person, my heart soars with delight."

"For now, I'm focusing on the words. To start, I flipped to the back pages and read the two-page Author's Note, in which Robertson tells us that he was nine years old when he was told the story of Hiawatha and the Peacemaker. Here's the last paragraph in Robertson's note. When I read it, my delight grew: Some years later in school, we were studying Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem about Hiawatha. I think I was the only one in the class who knew that Longfellow got Hiawatha mixed up with another Indian. I knew his poem was not about the real Hiawatha, whom I had learned about years ago, that day in the longhouse. I didn't say anything. I kept the truth to myself.. till now."

Entered at Mon Nov 9 15:20:43 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: 'He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright'

Mark Knopfler is the guitarist I go back to often. His body of work is superb. I can't get enough of it. I had the fortune of seeing him open for Dylan a few years ago and he was superb. Unfortunately, I never saw him with Dire Straits but I listen to those albums constantly.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 11:19:36 CET 2015 from (76.98.218.136)

Carmen

Subject: Cutting Edge

Cutting Edge Sampler- see Link

I don't know- maybe I am just partial - but so far - I like the versions with the BAND. Don't get me wrong - not saying better- just saying that I like what I hear. I think RR guitar work is awesome.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 01:42:55 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Thanks Al E & Carl.

I have just had the good fortune to become friends with Mark Knopfler on Face Book.

On his page is a youtube vid I hadn't seen before. If anyone is interested. It is a concert at Monserrat, with Phil Collins, Sting and Eric Clapton. They play "Money For Nothing". For me it is great. Another lift!

Entered at Mon Nov 9 01:15:07 CET 2015 from (65.189.212.146)

Calvin Rydbom

You think the Lomax Collection was Impressive? University of California at Santa Barbara relaunched their Edison Cylinder Website. The Indexing still isnt great.

Hit Playlists in the Bottom Left Corner for some groupings theyve done that is nowhere near complete. There is about 15-20 recording in the "Early Hillbilly" Section. Recordings from 1923-1926, you know-Before the Carter Family

Feel like listening to something beyond American? Theyve got some recordings of Sandra Bernhardt for 1910 on there.

Amazing Resource. I love living in 2015, and its only going to get better. Click my Link to check it out.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 00:44:50 CET 2015 from (24.108.19.210)

BONK

Hey Buddy. You want happy. Go to youtube and type in All about that bass-postmodern jukebox european tour version. There's hope for the music world after all.

Entered at Mon Nov 9 00:06:31 CET 2015 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Subject: Walking Dead Soundtrack

At the risk of jarring with PSB [I do get your discomfort Peter but we're all different I guess], I feel duty bound to alert or remind folks who may be interested to the amazing song selection used as a backdrop for this series.

Scarcely a track I'd ever heard before but some absolute cracking stuff. I linked the Ben Howard's Oats in The Water track last week.

I've now linked Ben Nichols Last pale Light in the West track. Another outstanding track that once again sounds like it must have been around for 50 years or more but is apparently once again - somehow - new.

Norm - I think it'll be right up your street.

Entered at Sun Nov 8 20:22:55 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: A Positive Feeling!

Just got home from delivering a boat to the Fraser River.

Too much strife and bloodshed on the news, with plane crashes as well. It becomes too much of a downer. Now and again I put on one of these songs. "We are the people". recorded for the folks in Africa.

It gives me a positive lift with hopes that more people can see things this way. The joy of listening to Bruce, Springsteen, Bob Dylan and all the rest put their hearts into this cheers me up.

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David P

Once upon a time and a very good time it was, Bob Dylan revolutionized music. Beginning in January 1965 he recorded three landmark albums in the span of just fourteen months, with enough outtakes to have comprised another had he chosen to interrupt a hectic touring schedule to further edit the recorded material. Five decades later we have the rare opportunity to peer into the soul of an artist as he toiled to create music in a new form with an amazing cast of supporting musicians to enrich his palette.

Entered at Sun Nov 8 17:05:55 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Joe Brown was on Radio 4 last night, talking about his early days in the BBC house band backing Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. He said that Musician’s Union rules meant visiting US stars could bring just one musician as a musical director ‘like one of the band … the drummer’ … I'd bet Levon was the only "drummer and MD" … but the interviewer didn’t know enough to draw out more on Levon & Ronnie.

Nice story about being sacked on the spot by Johnny Cash. Joe was playing Five Feet High and Rising and got so bored with the repetitive guitar part he added a little flourish on lead guitar. Johnny Cash stopped the band and ordered him to leave the studio.

Entered at Sun Nov 8 16:58:53 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: Cardboard housing plastic, vinyl and bound volumes

Kevin (and anyone else who might care): Box sets which document evolution of songs (like 1963 or1964 copyright releases of Dylan or the current 'The Cutting Edge' ) are usually exciting early and interesting in concept; but for the usual listener, they in time become tiresome and so do not often get listened to later in one's experience. On the other hand, for the few who want to understand how a track ultimately 'arrives' onto a final release, the interest in hearing it makes it worthwhile. This is the equivalent for the student of an artist (or a writer or a painter) of getting insight into the process. I think that in time and after one has digested this evolution of a final release, the box set will even for the student get put aside and will not be listened to for a while. So, even for the casual listener, the 3 seminal albums may be enough (Dylan) and they may find little in even the 2 CD 'The Cutting Edge". Certainly, the 6 CD may be too much for many. Getting a box set of everything an artist ever did is for the few, not for the many. I like Bruce Springsteen a lot but won't purchase a box set because I'm not that kind of fan of this artist. I have his releases and that will be enough. On the other hand, I have since 1970s (from bootlegs on) 'studied' Bob Dylan and it is a major interest (like Shakespeare and Dylan are to Andrew Muir). And so, as a 'hobby or pastime' I will continue to study. I haven't lost interest and can be both positively or negatively critical of some of his work. It is one of my sidelines when I am not working at my job. In the same way that I welcomed "A Musical History" (The Band) and would hope new The Band releases from the vault would be released. If a box set like that was released, I'd be in the first in line group. And for the same reasons.

Entered at Sun Nov 8 16:22:23 CET 2015 from (24.114.76.252)

Kevin J

Subject: New Bob Dylan Bootleg

LINKED.....A very good article that looks at the business side of the recent trend of too much too big box sets as well as a good review of Bob's latest.

Entered at Sun Nov 8 16:06:25 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Kenneth Branagh …

I don't normally link theatre reviews, but like Cumberbatch's Hamlet, this is the really big one of 2015 (and way better than the Cumberbatch too) and it will be coming to cinemas in three weeks … Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench in "The Winter's Tale." I've been sitting on the review for two and a half weeks waiting for press night.

Entered at Sun Nov 8 16:04:12 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Delighted to hear Rod on "Every Rock & Roll Song To Me" where he says to the lady "Hey, you're my Strawberry Fields … you're my Bridge Over Troubled Water … my Bohemian Rhapsody, I'm crazy about you, can't you see … Yea, be my Blonde on Blonde, bring it on home to me, and hey, your my Rock of Ages … You Sexy Thing, you're so outrageous."

It's Track 13 on the DeLuxe version of "Another Country", so maybe not on the main album.

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Kevin J

Almost seemed a joke, didn't it ? Single camera focused almost exclusively on Levon's mouth with almost no shots of the band.......and what was with having multiple takes of old cardboard photos of each band member rather than actually showing the live performance. Might have been the worst directed live music performance I have ever seen. The overhead shots of Garth were the only saving grace.

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JDF

Subject: SNL 1976

As you well know that was sarcasm. As usual, Richard is left out of the cameras view. So sad.

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JDF

Subject: SNL 1976

What a joke. Where was Richard?

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Bill M

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Kevin J

Thank you, Ari.......I had thought you might be joking but checked and there is a 1 hour SNL starting at 10:00pm on NBC. Just set the recorder. Wonderful.

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John D

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Ari

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JT

Subject: Errata

Everyone makes mistakes. Its good to have my first one pointed out. Thank you.

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Kevin J

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: JT

I highly appreciate your posts in this gb but this time you are wrong. You posted on 'She's Your Lover Now' that "it should have ultimately been released as an included cut. Glad we have it now". Wrong, my friend, wrong again. It is like it should always have been in the first place. - As an Lutheran I am not an expert but just like my Professor in Old Testament at Helsinki University said: "Don't say that Moses should have written Das Kapi tal by Karl Marx or Theory Of Evoluton by Charles Darwin", because you are wrong. It should never have been happen. And it did not!

Entered at Sat Nov 7 17:50:51 CET 2015 from (184.66.134.56)

JT

Subject: 'She's Your Lover Now"

'She's Your Lover Now" (Take 6): Amazing evolution of that song. Should have ultimately been released as an included cut. Glad we have it now.

Entered at Sat Nov 7 17:15:27 CET 2015 from (83.249.161.239)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: 'Money, money, money' by ABBA

What is richness. Ruben Rausing was born in our poor fishing hamlet. He invented the milk package you probably hold in your hand this morning. He was the richest man in the world when he died. His grave in our graveyard is one of the humblest... makes me wonder.

ABBA-Frida had a house in the peaceful and calm shore of the Strait a few miles away until her husband died. Nobody has seen her since then... makes me wonder.

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Coffee and Bill M

My apologies for making fun on my gb friend Bill M and his taste on coffee - latte - in one of my previous posts. Nothing that makes this gb more enjoyable for everyone. BTW coffee, 'Loving Spoonful' by John Lee Hooker is the blues which seems to be the favorite among the older coffee generation.

Entered at Fri Nov 6 16:06:32 CET 2015 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Peter Stone Brown reviews The Cutting Edge in Counterpunch

Go to counterpunch.org to read a superb and particularly incisive review of the 6 CD Deluxe version of The Cutting Edge Bootleg V. 12 Dylan by Peter Stone Brown. Again, from a musician's point of view and so what I certainly want to understand. Well done and thank you.

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Jeff A.

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Rod

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Peter V

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Jeff A.

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Carmen

Subject: Dylan review

Good review on the Dylan release. Lots of RR. Worth the read.

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Calvin

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Jon Lyness

Subject: Re: RR

Excellent!

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Carmen

Subject: RR

Nice news on a new RR album. Can't wait.

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Kevin J

From an article/interview with Todd Jensen posted on RR's Facebook page:

"On break from recording his forthcoming solo album – “a mirror, basically,” he says, to the autobiographical tome which will published next year, the new songs and the old stories interconnected"

Entered at Fri Nov 6 01:45:31 CET 2015 from (68.171.246.143)

Bill M

Subject: Al Bruno, RIP

I just learned that an old-Yonge-Street-hand-made-good, guitarist Al Bruno, died in August. Part of the C&W / rockabilly crowd that Ronnie Hawkins would have run with when he first arrived here, Bruno was picked up by Conway Twitty and the Dick Clark. I think some of the dates at the link are a bit off, and the bio fails to mention the solo LP, "Town and Country Guitar" he recorded here circa 1960. Its success led to "Town and Country Piano" by Johnny Coy, who deserves a mention on this site's list of former Hawks, given the two weeks he spent with Hawkins, filling in for Pop Jones.

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JT

Subject: The Clientele

Speaking of music I've never been aware of, a band out of the UK, with success in the US, is The Clientele. They've been around for a number of years and have had a number of albums under their belt. Well worth a listen. Anyone here know then and want to comment?

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Jeff A.

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Dan

Amy Helm is the featured artist this week on Sirius XM The Loft. Walking the dog this weekend and ran into a neighbor wearing a Levon Helm Band t-shirt. He shared his Levon Helm Ramble I & II DVDs for my Amy Helm Album and Live at the Academy on a 30 day return - mutually assured destruction to ensure what is borrowed is returned ...

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Jeff A.

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Peter V

Entered at Thu Nov 5 14:25:18 CET 2015 from (67.84.76.162)

Jeff A.

Subject: Pete, don't be so sure about that

Pete, I just mentioned prices for coop apartments where i live. That didn't include the monthly maintenance fee, which in my building is about 700. And really, next to Coney Island, Canarsie, & East New York, Sheepshead Bay is just about the least desirable or expensive area in Brooklyn today. But though it's comparably "quiet" ( ha ha )because of distance from The City this neighborhood has become one of the two or three least expensive already. Go to North Brooklyn, parts of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carrol Gardens, Park Slope, you can pay 12 million bucks for a three story townhouse or brownstone. the listings i see daily are insane. Linked is Brooklyn Navy green. A ridiculous development of Townhomes East of The Brooklyn Navy Yard. Though i haven't seen it ( i went by on the wrong Sunday) i suspect standards of construction are poor, as usually is the case with what I've seen..3,000 square foot 4 bedroom townhomes starting at S2,195,00.00 It's in a desolate, pretty well unpopulated area, not very close to DUMBO , and not really in Fort Greene. It's in what still is a relatively undesirable desolate, but rough area, on the border of what is still a rough area, projects, & connected to a "desirable" area , Fort Greene, what was once a really rough area, that still has some few aspects of that, but does have several bad projects in it. And that is to the west and southwest. Go east, it's worse. Plus, there is no real or abundant shopping closeby. But you are not close to any trains (subways), once you get to one you are near The City (Manhattan).Old Masonry Brownstones in Fort Greene, easily four million bucks, possibly a lot more. I lost touch wth my ex girlfriend and dont know what her cavernous 4 story home opposite Fort Greene Park would go for right now, but easily that.. Her mom bought it in 1975 for about 30k, when the neighborhood was Murderer's Row. but go to brooklyn Heights, my sister's friend Jonathan was paying over 3K rent for a small one bedroom apartment with a toney address in the early 2000s. Go to any Gold Coast block in Park Slope, the #s would require you wear a space suit. In 2008 & 9 i was selling & installing window treatments all over Brooklyn, & was in plenty of one & two bedroom apartments i new high rises in North Brooklyn that sold for over a quarter of a million and then also over half a million bucks. And the million dollar ones. Plus maintenance. Of course, hardly anyone that bought these was a native NY er or native Brooklynite. Just rich people who came for the fun of it, or business. Lots of inherited money too, lots of people in finance jobs. It sucks. And it's human gridlock, traffic gridlock, and you can pay 5 bucks for bad cup of coffee and a bad bagel all day long now in these nighborhoods. 5 bucks for a medium sized cup of frozen yogurt. Unless I'm at the point where my stomach thinks my throat beens cut, i rarely eat in these neighborhoods anymore. I get too pissed off when i way overpay & the quality is pitiful. If the quality's good i just get mildly aggravated. Cause aside from untethered greed, there's no reason for the destruction of a civilization, disturbances of whole populations, mindless homogenization & worship of celebrated mediocrity that is labeled different, though it's just a jumble of things that once were unique and meaningful.

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Peter V

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Jeff A.

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Jeff A.

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Jeff A.

Yes Jerry, and the fact of the attention is that it's driven by real estate more than culture. The culture has been here all along, now, it's actually on the way out.The one mostly replacing it is a consumption culture, and what it offers is kinda weak and exceptionally high priced. The funny thing though, is that so many of the business that caame in, paid higher prices in a variety of areas, good, toney, dangerous, and dilapidated areas (which of course are now gentrified), and in many cases fueled many landlords attempts to push out long time rent controlled tenants, is now being driven out when their leases expire and they to cannot afford the higher rents they are faced with..... But yes, the attention is a good thing, far better than not. The reality is the reality, that ain't gonna change, so might as well get attention. Two bedroom two bath aprtments are selling in my building for 300K now.And i'm at the far end of Brooklyn, in a fifty year old building. New construction in my neighborhood, someone just bought a 2 bedroom, one bath apartment nearby for 640k. So, who the fuck can afford these prices and why the hell woudl you want to put up with the kind of living condtions for that kind of money? so, that's my feelign abutteh attention. It;s better than not having it, but, Brooklyn got planty of attention always, and at a lower sticker price. Murder Incorporated, hell, they got Brooklyn plenty of attention when it was inexpensive.

Brooklyn always been on the radar. and truth is, it never was an inexpensive plce to live. but it never was insanely pried. You always had to hustle here, but average schmucks could live, even on A 40 houre week. thing is, noone ever wanted to just gat by, and everyone always wanted to look sharp, have nice wheels, impress their girlfriend or potentials, impress their in laws , everyone always wanted to do better, so everyone here hustled. I never knew anyone who sat on their ass. My friends and i all started workign young, before or by 12 the latest, even if your family was well off, you had to work. and everyone's fathers worked hard, my stepfather never worked a 40 hour week, when i was real young he worked a 40 hour job selling floor waxing machines & typewriters, and a had a floor waxing business nights and weekends...By the time i was 10 he had a home improvement operation working.. It was more like 13 hour days 4 days a week, and shorter Friday and Ssturdays. Cops , firemen, all civil servants always had side jobs or side businesses, business owners worked themselves in to the ground.But it was always fur a reason or a better life. by the late 8os i could feel it changing, and in the late mid 90s, i knew that what has been goin on , i knew it had begun.

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JQ

PV - I liked that too; reminded me a bit of a more contemporary Andy M Stewart.

And Ben Howard - Thanks Al for that one too - we're so damn hip here!

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JT

Subject: Brooklyn

Brooklyn is getting a lot of attention in the papers lately, Jeff. From pizza to kosher bakeries to movie titles to vinyl record stores, Brooklyn is front and centre.

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JT

Subject: Sam Lee

Peter: Thanks for that review and for alerting me to this fine ensemble and this excellent singer. We don't hear much about the folk performers you have noted and you have been consistently on the money. Until this review, i had not been aware of Sam Lee. Careful listening will be the menu for my flight back to Victoria from Toronto in a couple of days. (both albums)

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Peter V

Subject: Sam Lee: Phoenix Island

Live version of this song linked for those who don't know Sam Lee.

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Peter V

Subject: Sam Lee & Friends

Just back from a concert by the Award Winning English folk artists, Sam Lee and Friends. Impeccable sound, wonderful arrangements and a distinct personal style. See LINK ABOVE for review.

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Bonus pic

My link is a bonus pic ONLY for those who read my previous post. This is the cashier in the country store.

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Calvin's famous link and world's richest man who paid our coffee

Calvin's link made us to drive to Agunnaryd where world's richest man lives by a lake in the deep forests in southern Sweden. He supports the local country store not bigger than your living room. These woods were the roots for Appalachian mountain hymns and dance hall music in Wisconsin - but there were other countries too, Ireland Germany and Scotland for instance like you know well. Coffee in this country store is free. No latte for Bill M but black truck-driver style coffee instead. My link shows the wall of the country store plus ten per cent of the people who lives there and the richest man in the world somewhere among them. There are as many bears and wolves there.

Makes me wonder... this man must be rich in more than just one way.

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David P

In Nashville Dylan achieved more subtle dynamics in the pace of the song. Drummer Kenny Buttrey laid down a marching shuffle groove, supported by Joe South on bass and the steady snap of the rhythm guitar (Wayne Moss, Jerry Kennedy?). Al Kooper's background organ swirls and the bite of Robbie Robertson's tasty lead guitar add a perfect icing on the cake. All in all the version has a late night groove that allows the complexity of the lyrics to breathe in the foreground.

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sadavid

Subject: Stage Fright at Birds Hill

"English troubadour Robyn Hitchcock joins Canada’s premier roots-rock band The Sadies and other special guests to perform The Band’s _Stage Fright_ album, in honour of the anniversary of its 1970 release." 11 July 2015

The Sadies covered "The Shape I'm In" and backed Neil Young ("This Wheel's On Fire") and Mary Margret O'Hara ("Out of the Blue") on _Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band_ (2010).

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JT

Subject: English Grammar

...even if it is grammatically incorrect.

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JT

Subject: Correction

WHOOPS! That should have been ", Well Shakespeare, he's in the alley.... Gotta get it right

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JT

Subject: Shakespeare's in the alley...

Thanks Bill for reminding us about Hamlet. There are some great photos of The Band and Rick Danko with Hamlet done by E. Landy. Hopefully, they will be among those coming in the new book soon to be released and sent of Landy photos of The Band.

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Carmen

Subject: Visions

This might just be sacrilege - but the more I listen - the more I like the BAND version better.

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Bill M

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Carmen

Subject: Visions

I really like this alt version. Not saying it is better but I think it groves and RR kills it with his guitar throughout.

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Peter V

Not so sure … I think Dylan was right in not using the NYC version and The Hawks hammered the subtlety out of it and it would have got lost (say) next to Tell Me Mama. It would have been great in the electric set if they'd done it the Nashville arrangement.

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David P

Watching that new video with the alternate take of "Visions of Johanna" brings to mind that Dylan performed the song during his solo acoustic set while on tour with the Hawks. It seems it would have been a good choice from his new material at the time to perform during the electric set.

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Peter V

As you drive along the Embankment in London you pass a very nice house and the cars parked outside are 2 BE and NOT 2B. I often wonder who owns them.

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David P

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David P

In anticipation of the Cutting Edge release an early (2B) Columbia 360 stereo pressing of Blonde On Blonde is in heavy rotation this week. While admiring the photo of Ms. Cardinale my tube headphone amp glows as it warms the ghost of electricity.

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Peter M.

Subject: Oats

Not only does Oats on the Water have a haunting melody, sung beautifully, and a skilled band playing it, the bass player is so pretty. For Peter V: if you want to know where on the river is the Tallahatchie Bridge, there is an NPR (or PRI these days)interview from not long ago where Roseanne Cash mentions going to visit the spot for a CD cover shoot.

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Peter V

BTW, I was discussing the two reissues last night. Bob Dylan is the alternatives from his best three albums, but essentially these are all REJECTED versions. The Beatles 45s are in contrast the SELECTED versions. Judging from the work on LOVE, the remastering / remixing will be well done, though in this case subtle rather than a radical remix. He says "mono gently lifted into 5.1"

Which will be the true best reissue of 2015?

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Peter V

PSB: the reviews are already starting. I guess the video is a Hawks track from NYC? One preview said The Hawks stuff was all too fast and vindicated the decision to move to Nashville and try again. While it rocks away, and I love the vocal, the Blonde on Blonde "Visions of Johanna" is probably the one that would win for me on "Desert Island Discs" when they say, "But if you could only take ONE song …" I believe it came first in a poll on "favourite Dylan song" too. It's my choice. So in that sense, I'm enthralled to hear the different version, but it really makes the towering achievement of the Blonde on Blonde released version even more obvious.

Having often thought about Desert Island Discs, it comes down to Visions of Johanna v King Harvest v Strawberry Fields Forever, but if I really was going to a desert island with one piece of music, it would be Ravel's Piano Concerto in G, Bernstein version … because I'd want tranquility and relaxation, rather than a song!

Also Friday sees the "One Plus" DVD / Blu-Ray from The Beatles with all their videos and promos, remixed in 5.1 again as on LOVE. You really must get the De Luxe 2 Blu Ray edition because the really interesting stuff is on Disc 2, the "De Luxe" only one.

It will be quite a battle for REISSUE OF THE YEAR, especially with the remasters "Astral Weeks" with bonus tracks finally out this month too.

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Bill M

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PSB

Subject: Lots of Hawks

Sometimes the conversation here amazes me. The new Bob Dylan bootleg series comes out Friday and there is a lot of Bob and The Hawks (usually without Levon, but a couple of tracks with him) on the set and even more stuff from Nashville with Robbie. The link above is to a just out video of one of the takes, a speedy one of "Visions Of Johanna."

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barbara B

Subject: photo needed

I am working on a John Scher Retrospective Gallery Exhibit and am hoping to find a photo of The Band from the Asbury Park Casino Arena shows in 1976. Please contact me at barbler1@yahoo.com thank you

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Peter V

Having been unable to stop listening to Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs "Under The Covers 1: The 60s" for a week, I'm now thoroughly addicted to "Vol 2: The 70s Part 1." It's odd … they're pretty faithful covers, there's no Cat Power -style reworkings at all, but they're enthralling because of her voice: Sugar Magnolia, Bell Bottom Blues, Second Hand Newss, All The Young Dudes, Willin;, Hello It's Me, Maggie May, Beware of Darkness, Gimmee Some Truth, You're So Vain … a fine selection of songs, but because of the unity of voice it fits together as an album.

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Peter V

The Toppermost on Bobbie Gentry will be up in a week or so, and having finished it a couple of weeks ago, I was flicking through William Faulkner's Collected Stories (as one does in November) and found "My Grandmother Milliard and General Bedford Forrest" which mentions the Tallahatchie Crossing, apparently the site of a Civil War contretemps … was it on the site of the famous Billie Joe bridge? Or elsewhere on the river?

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Jeff A.

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Jeff A.

Subject: Want to buy an iconic store? Mandolin Bros.

So many of the names I've known for what feels like forever............cause it sorta is...

Al, I keep meeting Scouses... few nights back, a friend playing in Lucille's, the bar club in BB Kings, three gals sit down to my left while i was yakking with some one. Later the one on my left starts talking to me. i recognized the sound.... Anyway, three gals, two sisters & ones daughter, the mom & her sister were at a play. We decided Liverpool is likely Britain's version of Brooklyn.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Shameful!

Gawd damn Englishman is gettin' crazier by the minute.

I think I'm gonna start calling JQ........JQA as in John Quincey Adams ;-)

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Al Edge

I never even knew he played for New Zealand!

:-0)

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Jeff A.

Link is to a photo of Mets owner Fred Wilpon & Sandy Koufax, & the rest of their high school basketball team..Yes JQ, those homegrown ones,including Murphy, Flores, Conforto, Duda, & Familia, came up through The Mets system, were Brooklyn Cyclones. Fred Wilpon, the team owner, obviously is a Brooklyn boy.

JQ,thanks for the correction, that it was Cespedes, not Granderson.

Funny to read that Koufax tied his elbow arthritis to hiiting the pole that held up the baskets on the basketball courts. I destroyed my left wrist in my teen years , while playing basketball. I was short, but had springs in my legs, and twice jumped over the hoop. Anyway, the first time i hurt that wrist, i hit the pavement hard, and guess on the way down i tried to push the pavement away with my left hand.. Another time i was running and whacked the pole with my left hand or wrist.I guess the ortopedist wasn't too good, said there's probably some minifracture, leave it alone, hope it heals, or the only thing to do is break it and operate to fix it. Which makes sense, but i guess he didn't instill enough confidence in me that i ever followed up & took care of it back then. I know he didn't say come back in a month & we'll reevaluate, this is heavy duty... Of course, today, MRIS make a big difference as to how medicine worked back then... I was a kid, mid teens, just didn't like the idea of having my wrist broken. And since that guy was wishy washy, shoulda looked for a dr that i liked better...Anyway, it sure made guitar playing difficult from there on in, and though i was good, fretting became too hard sometimes, ...i could play fine for awhile, then all of a sudden, my wrist would go again. Then all of a sudden , i could play. then the wrist would go again, and fretting became a bitch..... Soemtimes i;d crack that wrist, you could hear 5 cracks , for a distance. These days, the cracking sounds sometimes are pretty wild, cleaner,deeper, distincter, and coming from more parts of the wrist than ever before.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Earworms! They grab you and won't let go.

Y'all remember Sammy Johns? There was always some kind of van.....didn't have to be a Chevy. For many years I owned and restored a '57 Ford Skyliner retractable convertible...at a time between wives. A bunch of my life long friends and I were sitting in this old local bar in Gibsons.......Sam Gibbs a really Deluxe brunette I'd know forever was sitting across from me as we all looked out the window admiring this old beauty of mine with 10 coats of black laquer on it Sam looks at me and says, (with her eyes kind of smokey), "have you broke in the back seat yet Norm?"

I said ...........aaaaaaaah NO! She said what are we waiting for lets go....nothing else to say.

Yeah Al! I caught that too, callin those guys Orks, I thought I was bad calling them gorillas.

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Wallsend

Al Edge, Ork you say ...

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Ari

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JQ

Hi Jeff - He was the guy caught off first that ended the game - an expensive mental error. My Mets' fan buddies blame the game 1 loss on him too, when he messed up in the OF allowing for the inside-the-park HR.

KC is getting a lot of credit for being a home-made team but it's actually the Mets that are more that way: Their 4 starters are all original Mets, as is their closer and 7 of 9 position players. All except the store-bought Cespedes. And 2nd year and natural Met: the red-hot Granderson.

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Jeff A.

Another rare thing, that Mets outfield, none of em were big names. Cleon was the only guy who had any kind of cachet attached to his name at all. There were no big names on that team at the beginning of the season. They all made their names in the clutch.... Seaver & Koosman both had a small rep, Koosman was my preference. Hell, when the Mets traded for Don Clendenon, he was the biggest name & was just coming to the team. And if i recall, he was kinda coming back from an injury, or got injured when he first joined the team..... I loved Clendenon, he was a clutch player, showed up right on the time. That was a team of no names.....

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Jeff A.

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Jeff A.

Times change.sensibilities change. I kinda wonder if that is a way of thought anymore, if it's in the general air, if it gets taught by example & or theory anymore, if it's something people even see enough or are able to believe anymore. I's a totally different world.

Back to baseball. The Amazin Mets got that name from Casey Stengel cause they were so bad. They were bad right into the early mid season of 1969 when they apparently got hit by lightning & everyone on the team, including formerly marginal (pro) players like Wayne Garrett, Ed Charles, Al Weiss, Art Shamsky, & Kenny Boswell, turned into superheros. And that pitching staff was outasite. Everyone hit their stride at once, it was a team mental thing that elevated the physical performance of everyone on the team. They caught fire, & mentally that whole damn team believed that they could do anything & they did it. You could not rattle those guys or coaches..One unmakeable defensive play after another. One clutch hit after another. Talent is one thing, but the mind is another entirely. When you can keep your mind right, bombs can go off all around you, it ain't gonna matter ( okay, move over to real life, in practice, there's limits to everything & after a point, you gotta have support to handle stress too) .

Back to those Mets.... Gil Hodges lived just about a mile away from me, on Bedford Ave between Ave N & Ave M. I never saw him in front of the house, but that's where they lived. Just on the border into Midwood. I think they later moved to Mill Basin, a couple neighborhoods over.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Yeah BUT - JQ & xAmbassadors - Renegades

KC won JQ, so it wasn't that much of a fuck up that they couldn't recover instead of getting all rattled.

I'm hoping this video works. I wonder if any of you have listened to the x-Ambassadors? For a catchy tune that grabs you listen to this. The concept of the video is pretty good as well.

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JQ

KC miscues helped the Mets too - one was very big: Carlos Rios' forgetting the outs allowed the Mets to score what could/should have been the winning run. And then Moustakis' late inning thing when the shift was on and he was at SS. A routine grounder hit him in the pocket of his glove and he lost it and it went for an essential NYM base runner.

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Al Edge

I agree - it really is a rare treat. For me what sets it apart is the basic melody is so simple yet so beautiful and haunting. You wonder how come nobody had ever come up with it before. I remember feeling the same about the simplicity of Sting's Every Breath when I first heard it. It's as if the thing has always been there just waiting for someone to grab it out of the ethos and sing it.

:-0)

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Al Edge

They may well be the best and they are as awesome as it gets - yet fulsome praise is hard to bestow since they are prettty nigh unlikeable due to their Ork like presence.

So when it comes to rugby my heart can never stray far away from JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, Barry John, Gareth Edwards, John Dawes, JJ Williams, Merv the Swerve, Derek Quinnell, Tommy David and the Pontypool front row. A vision of sheer beauty in red with their Welsh compatriots in full perfect pitch vocal majesty driving them on.

Glorious days indeed.

:-0)

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Al Edge

Got to agree with you Fred lad - the Martina comparison is definitely skating on thin ice!!

:-0)

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JT

Subject: Deflation

The Mets seemed deflated after that error. An amazing phenomenon that we see so often in sport. Also, I think they brought in the wrong pitcher in the 8th when Reed pitched so well in the 7th. Outmanaged?

Entered at Sun Nov 1 15:39:11 CET 2015 from (208.181.205.152)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Sports?

I agree with you Jerry. I think the Mets just got a little rattled for a moment with the second baseman error. With a team the likes of KC you can see how quickly things can change. I went upstairs from my family room to get a cup of tea and my cookies Susie has me hooked on. Came back down and couldn't believe my eyes.

I'm wondering if any of you have seen this youtube clip. I'm not much of a fan of mixed martial arts but, on my news page here was this clip that I clicked on and watched. One guy, (I don't remember their names), 5'9" 145 pounds sparring with this guy from Iceland, 6'9" and 420 pounds. Now that was funny!

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JT

Subject: Mets/KC

I've been watching Mets/KC hoping to see KC go down. That team is relentless and they have the players to make it happen and the direction by the manager to do the right things. The Mets will have to dig deep to win 3 games. Its been done but I'm not optimistic. But, yes, October/November baseball is a great thing even for we Canadians

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Peter V

Entered at Sun Nov 1 13:55:22 CET 2015 from (203.160.29.153)

Fred

The comparison can't be made because the sports are different. I hate when people (especially journalists) do this. Kind of like saying Martina Navratilova was better than Katarina Witt (or vice versa).

Entered at Sun Nov 1 12:42:29 CET 2015 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Are New Zealand the greatest sporting team in the world, any country, any sport? Few … will argue against this theory.

For our North American readers the sport concerned is rugby. I don't watch it, just see that unaccountably proper football (Chelsea 1 Liverpool 3) doesn't appear until page TEN of the sports section. Still, it's one to consider. The writer is suggesting that this team is better than Pele's Brazil?

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Jeff A.

Entered at Sun Nov 1 05:31:51 CET 2015 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Jeff - The quality aspects I refer to mostly are the entertainment, passion and the talent on display - from a fan's point-of-view. From that perspective occasional and rare errors and mishaps keep it all human. I love October baseball!

Entered at Sun Nov 1 05:23:06 CET 2015 from (173.3.49.223)

Jeff A.

Entered at Sun Nov 1 04:58:26 CET 2015 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

3-1 KC! / Top notch baseball for any occasional fans here - Game 5 tomorrow.

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